Fast Facts :

Location : Andhra Pradesh

Evolved around : Kakatiya Era

Famous as : Warriors Dance

Performed by : Men

Perini is a dance form that is usually performed by males. It is also known as the ‘Dance of Warriors’, as the warriors before leaving for the battle used to perform this dance in before the idols of Lord Shiva or Nataraja. This dance form was patronized by the kings of the Kakatiya Empire in Warangal. According to the beliefs it is found that this dance form is a dedication to the super dancer Lord Shiva and is also considered as an inspiration.

At Warangal in the Ramappa Temple, you can find the sculptures that serve as an evidence to this dance form. The vigorous dance Perini is performed on drum beats. This dance form is considered to be the powerful dance that takes the dancers to the state of mental abstraction; this makes their body feel the power of Lord Shiva. Through their dancing they try to invoke Lord Shiva to come into and dance through them.

After the decline of the Kakatiya Empire the Perini form of Dance almost disappeared. When it was on the urge of extinction, the father of Andhra Natyam Dr. Nataraja Ramkrishna brought renaissance in Perini Dance.