Engaging with the cross dressing dancers of rural Rajasthan

Meena, also Mina, is a community principally found in the state of Rajasthan in North India. At the time of British ruling, the Meena tribal community had become known as the 'Criminal Tribe' and from the early 19th century, they developed oral traditions in an attempt to reconstruct their identity. This project follows the Meena community dancers and their story of becoming cross dancers. Identity, gender fluidity, roles, society, community and family are central themes as two male bodies transform into female dancers. By going into their villages and listening to their stories from being folk performers at the same time as being so many other things, this project explores the folk beyond just the form; testing new ways of viewing a folk performance and trying to reframe the popular images associated with folk dancing. This particular dance form, performed by the Meena community and in this case the cross dancers Chaina and Rakesh, is usually restricted to community gatherings and essentially viewed as a form of side entertainment. When taken out of that context and space and put into the spotlight, the dancing becomes a tool to question, converse and initiate dialogues.