Paper short abstract:

This paper presents an overview of the history of Kalbeliya dance from its origins (in the 1980s) till present, focusing on the evolution of this performing art as a consequence of the recognition as world heritage by UNESCO.

Paper long abstract:

Rajasthani 'gypsy' performances, featuring a dance designed by the nomadic Kālbeliyā community, have recently become popular among tourists in India as well as on Western world music stages. The state of Rajasthan, where the Kālbeliyās hail from, is celebrated as "India's heritage state" by the Indian Government in its promotion of tourism and in the international dissemination of Indian culture through performances and festivals. Within this framework, Kālbeliyā dance is currently portrayed as a symbol of "traditional folk art". Kālbeliyās are also depicted as the ancestors of the European gypsies, connecting them to the broader, international discourse on the migration of gypsies from India to Europe. Kālbeliyā dance developed only within the last few decades; as such, one could call it an "invented" tradition. Still, it was recognized as Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in November 2010. In this paper, I sketch the evolution of Kālbeliyā dance from its origin in the 1980s up to the nomination by UNESCO. Moreover, I discuss the effects of the recognition as world heritage on its style and tradition. The recognition of Kalbeliya dance as 'heritage' further evokes questions on UNESCO's selection process of the candidates. This paper aims to explain the reasons for the nomination of Kalbeliya dance (How and why was UNESCO convinced to recognize it as a suitable candidate?) by relating this to continued processes of nationalism and romanticism, economic strategies of the cultural tourism industry and the commodification and commercialization of Indian folk arts.