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{{Short description|Bhojpuri Folk dance}}
{{Expert needed|1=Sexology and sexuality|reason=Given the references included, seems it needs expanded on greatly|date=January 2020}}

{{Infobox dance
|title = Launda Nach
|genre = [[Folk dance|Folk]]
|signature =
|inventor =
|year =
|origin=Purvanchal, India
}}

The '''Launda Nach''' ([[Bhojpuri]]: 𑂪𑂫𑂢𑂹𑂙𑂰 𑂢𑂰𑂒) is a [[folk dance]] of the Bhojpuri speaking Community of [[India]], [[Nepal]], [[Mauritius]] and the Caribbean Islands.<ref name="Morcom2014">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nshUAgAAQBAJ&pg=PT196|title=Courtesans, Bar Girls & Dancing Boys: The Illicit Worlds of Indian Dance|author=Anna Morcom|date=7 February 2014|publisher=Hachette India|isbn=978-93-5009-793-9|pages=196–}}</ref> It is performed by only males who dress as women called "launda".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2014/03/the-tragic-exploitation-of-indias-launda-dancers/|title=The Tragic Exploitation of India's Launda Dancers}}</ref> During the wedding ceremony launda dancers are a focal point, leading the groom's entourage to the bride's home.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=UNICEF|date=April 2010|title=SEXUAL ABUSE AND EXPLOITATION OF BOYS IN SOUTH ASIA A REVIEW OF RESEARCH FINDINGS, LEGISLATION, POLICY AND PROGRAMME RESPONSES|journal=UNICEF Innocenti Research Centre}}</ref>

==History==

The earliest mention of this folk dance can be found in 11th century which remained alive in the [[Bhojpuri region]] and in 19th century, this idea of transforming the centuries-old art form into a people's theatre was conceptualised by [[Bhikhari Thakur]],<ref>{{Cite news|title=Ramchandra Manjhi: The last scion of Bhikhari Thakur's Naach tradition|work=National Herald|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/amp/story/entertainment%252Fthe-last-scion-of-bhikhari-thakurs-naach-tradition}}</ref> who is also for credited for popularising it. In the first few decades of the twentieth century when the world was witnessing revolutionary changes recognising the rights of the downtrodden, Bhikhari Thakur displayed their contsant struggle and survival instinct through agrarian theatre that came to be colloquially known as 'Launda Naach',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2017/07/celebrating-100-years-of-bhikaji-thakurs-launda-naach/|title=Celebrating 100 years of Bhikaji Thakur's 'Launda Naach'|date=12 July 2017}}</ref> comprising "songs, dance, comedy, satire, pun, banter, parody, and theatre where men impersonate women in performances that last all night."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/theatre/the-fire-is-still-burning/article24580281.ece|title = The fire is still burning|newspaper = The Hindu|date = 3 August 2018|last1 = Shrivastava|first1 = Girish}}</ref>

== Tradition, Recognition and Criticism==

Ramchandra Manjhi, the last disciple of Thakur, inherited a great legacy and vast repertoire of Naach Theatre such as [[Bidesiya (play)|Bidesiya]], [[Gabarghichor]], [[Beti Bechwa]], etc.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/entertainment/the-last-scion-of-bhikhari-thakurs-naach-tradition|title = Ramchandra Manjhi: The last scion of Bhikhari Thakur's Naach tradition|date = 14 October 2018}}</ref> 93-years-old Manjhi was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Academi Award]] in 2017, coincidentally the centenary year of Bhikhari Thakur's theatre.

However, the Launda Naach diversified over time, transcending the boundaries and parameters established by the scions of Thakur's theatre. With the rise of multiple sources of entertainment, the folk art form has also been criticised for losing its 'professionalism', allowing objectification and validating it, and becoming an area for abuse.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edtimes.in/launda-naach-men-dressing-as-women-dancing-in-front-of-sexually-hungry-men-in-bihar/|title = Launda Naach: Men Dress as Women & Dance in Front of Sexually Hungry Men in Bihar|date = 16 May 2020}}</ref> Although the professional groups engaged in Launda Naach have been criticised for restricting the participation of women, one reason behind this is prevalence of human trafficking in the case of 'lewd dance troupes', called ''Aarkestra'', which are gaining traction in the region where once Launda Naach was well received.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newsclick.in/Launda-Naach-Keeping-Folk-Art-Alive-Bihar#:~:text=Launda%20Naach%20is%20an%20archaic%20agrarian%20theatre%20form,personal%20circles%20of%20impressionists%20who%20perform%20this%20art.|title = Launda Naach: Keeping Folk Art Alive in Bihar|date = 31 December 2019}}</ref> This rapid change has been pushing the performances of the Launda Naach ensembles to be adjusted according to the mainstream audience demands.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://m.hindustantimes.com/india-news/act-like-a-woman-bihar-s-launda-naach-sees-a-surge-in-popularity-during-festive-occasions/story-oZELovYpTg43xZKr1enKsM.html|title = Act like a woman: How a little-known folk art form is sweeping away barriers of caste and gender, one Launda at a time|date = 4 November 2017}}</ref>

== Notable performers ==

* [[Ramchandra Manjhi]]

* Rakesh Kumar

==References==
{{Reflist}}

[[Category:Indian folk dances]]

11. https://www.bbc.com/hindi/india-43820673

Rakesh Kumar

12. https://raghunathpur.co.in/raghunathpur-siwan-news-in-hindi/launda-dance-fame-nsd-student-rakesh-kumar-from-ziradei-siwan-bihar/amp/

Launda Naach - Revision history

->Citation bot at 20:43, 23 September 2021