Tonya Mell is the stick dance of Goa. It resembles the Gujarati folk dance Dandiya Raas. Although, Tonya Mell requires more energy and is more difficult than Dandiya.
The biggest difference is that only males can perform Tonya Mell dance whereas Dandiya can be played by both men and women. The speed of the dance increases with the progression in Tonya Mell dance. It requires artistic talent to sync with other’s footwork and energy.
Tonya Mell Origins
Tonya Mell name is made up of two words ‘tonyo’ or ‘toni’ which means sticks and ‘mell’ which means dancers. Thus Tonya Mell means literally stick dancers. In the dance performance stick held by dancers is given respect and it can not be left on the floor. Dancers also remove their footwear before holding the stick in order to show their respect.
There is a mythological story behind this special treatment. It is said that a Khair tree was planted by God on earth. That tree wore leaves of life. Every leaf on that tree represented life on earth. The stick which dancers hold is considered a branch from that holy tree.
Symbolism
The stick held by male dancers can also be seen as a phallic symbol. It represents the men in the reproduction cycle on earth. This can be another reason for not having any female dancers in this dance.
The folk dances and songs connect our present from the past, giving us glimpses of the future. The stories we hear in those songs or the steps those dancers take while dancing teaches us of our roots. They teach us how they lived and how they continued to live joyfully even in the hard times.
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