Surekha Punekar is a well-known performer of which dance form?

Explanation

Surekha Punekar is one of the best-known Lavani performers of Maharashtra. She comes from a family of traditional Lavani artists and has performed Lavani on stage for many decades, helping to keep this traditional art alive and to bring it to new audiences. She has also appeared on television, including the reality show "Bigg Boss Marathi".

Lavani is the most famous folk performing art of Maharashtra. It is a combination of song and dance, performed mainly by women to the beat of the dholki, a two-headed drum. The name is often explained as coming from "lavanya", which means beauty. Lavani became especially popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, during the time of the Peshwas, when it was performed to entertain soldiers and at the courts of local rulers. The songs deal with many themes, including love, devotion, social issues, politics and humour, and they often contain sharp wit and clever wordplay. The dancers wear the nine-yard saree (nauvari), tied in a special way that allows free movement, along with heavy jewellery and ankle bells (ghungroos). There are two main types of Lavani: Phadachi Lavani, performed in public before large audiences, often as part of Tamasha (the folk theatre of Maharashtra), and Baithakichi Lavani, performed for a smaller, seated audience, with more emphasis on expression and singing.

Famous Lavani artists and writers include Honaji Bala, Ram Joshi and Patthe Bapurao (who wrote Lavani songs), and performers such as Vithabai Narayangaonkar (called the "Queen of Tamasha"), Sulochana Chavan (a famous singer of Lavani songs), Maya Khutegaonkar and Surekha Punekar.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Garba is the circular dance of Gujarat performed during Navratri.
• ✗Ghoomar is the spinning dance of the women of Rajasthan.
• ✗Bihu is the folk dance of Assam performed during the Bihu festivals.
• ✗None of these is linked with Surekha Punekar.