Tamil dance styles

southeast Asian dance

Karakattam is an ancient folk dance of Tamil Nadu usually dedicated to goddess Mariamman. As per Tamil literature, the dance form originated from a mix of Bharatham and other folk dance forms. It was often performed in festivals and fairs, and used as a means to pray for rain. Different variations of the dance form exists, including Karagam Puja performed in the Caribbean.

thumb|A mayilattam performer

Kummi is a folk dance, popular in Tamil Nadu and Kerala in India, danced mostly by South Indian women in circle. Dancing may be different. In some places, it is very simple, with rhythmic clapping or beating of the drums. In other places dancers imitate various harvesting activities. Kummi often accompany by songs, called "Kummi songs". It is often danced during festivals. It is also danced by Tamils of Sri Lanka. Kummi songs became a popular addition to kuthiyottam festivities in modern times.

Dappankuthu (or simply Kuthu; ) is a folk dance and music genre, that is typically danced to the Gaana music genre or Kuthu Beats with an emphasis on percussion performed in the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is one of several popular genres employed in film music, mainly in Tamil cinema and other South films, filmed and produced by people of Tamil culture. Unlike classical Indian dances such as bharatanatyam or kathakali, dappankuthu is relatively informal in that it has no structured, repeated steps and dancers do not learn through formal dance classes. It shares its emphasis on percu

Koothu, or Therukoothu, is an ancient Tamil art form, where artists enacted scenes from epics and folklore with dance and music. It is a form of storytelling art that originated in the early Tamilakam, and served as an entertainment and a medium to educate the people about religion and history. Various forms exist such as Terukuttu and Kattaikkuttu.