Does water scarcity silence the human dance?

Born to a Meena community of farmers in Rajasthan, North India, Chaina and Rakesh, have mostly relied on farming as an income source. However performing as cross dressers brought in a much welcomed addition to this income. Cross dancing means dressing up as women and performing in the villages for cultural gatherings or celebrations. Frequent performances and increased demand kept them busy and fulfilled. Good crop in the fields meant more money in the community and that translated to more celebrations and more performances.

We met them last year as part of an art festival in the city of Jaipur. They were kind enough to invite us to their villages and into their homes. Our meetings with them were warm and fulfilling. Their fields were green and work seemed abundant.

This year though paints a different story. The water levels in the villages have started dwindling and so has the economy. In Rakesh’s village there is an acute water shortage. The groundwater levels have gone down to 800 feet and beyond. Chaina’s village is faring better with levels at 250 feet.

Less water has impacted farming with lesser produce. Lesser produce brings in lesser money. There are fewer gatherings that invite performers now. People have no money to pay.

Last year they performed about 3-4 times a month. This year there has been only one single paid performance in over three months.

Rakesh is thinking of moving out of the village. There is no work here, he says. Not in farming, not in dancing. He travelled to the city last month in search of work without much success. His father too has pinned his hopes on people from the city, who might secure a well paying steady job for him.

Chaina, too, knows that life in villages might get difficult. He really loves his home in the village. But if the situation gets desperate, he might have to prepare to leave too.