Goa, Oct. 13 -- Janet Mascarenhas

The beats of the dhol are echoing across the state. Navratri has begun, and Goa has come alive with vibrant dance workshops. Across the state, dancers are rehearsing footwork, practising formations and getting familiar with the rhythm. For some, it is their first introduction to the dance forms; for others, it is a chance to sharpen their steps before stepping into the circle. The Garba being learnt today does not always look exactly like its traditional form. Online videos, large-scale events and contemporary choreography have introduced dancers to newer styles, leaving instructors to balance tradition with the changing ways people learn and experience the dance. For Goa, where Garba is not a native fes...