Expense may doom elaborate West Bengal dance

April 13, 1996
Web posted at: 4:20 p.m. EDT (2020 GMT)

From Correspondent John Mann

WEST BENGAL, India (CNN) -- Chhou dancing has been performed in the Indian state of West Bengal for more than 200 years. The dancers wear elaborate costumes and masks, but rising costs raise doubts about the art form's future -- and threaten a part of India's cultural heritage.

The chhou dance is a traditional masked dance -- the word "chhou" literally means "having fun." Routines are passed from generation to generation. (1.1M QuickTime movie)

The dances tell stories from Hindu mythology. Dancers also tackle social issues and topics from their own lives.

Before each performance, dancers spend hours applying body paint and dressing in elaborate costumes. Then they put on the masks characteristic of this time-honored tradition.

But there is a growing problem: many dancers can no longer afford the expensive costumes and masks made by West Bengal craftsmen.

Originally, the marks were made of wood, but dancers complained they were too heavy. So they now are made from paper pulp and cloth.

It is a time consuming, labor-intensive craft. A set of masks for one dance troupe can cost up to 30,000 rupees, or more than $500. Dancers take out loans to buy the masks. But with few jobs available, they're usually unable to repay the loans.

"Those who dance, the dancers, come from the very poor families in the village," says Sanjib Sarkar, a expert on Indian culture. "So the cost has gone up, cost of the masks and other production things has gone up. And it is not possible for them to continue dancing."

Chhou dancing is still performed at major festivals in West Bengal. But without some help from the Indian government or private sector, this ancient tradition could disappear.

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