RECREATIONAL DANCES: There are many forms of recreational dances prevalent in Sikkim. The performance of these dances while giving recreational pleasures to the dancers, entertains the onlookers. Under this category of dances are included those forms of folk dances which have unmistakable elements of theatre. There is a very thin line between dance and theatre, and there are seasonal theatre forms in which dance is the most dominant dramatic expression. Many recreational dances are traditionally performed on a particular occasion or season, but they are being considered under this category because entertainment is the predominant objective of the performance. Most of them are associated with festivals and their performance imparts the desired festive atmosphere to the festivals (Pani, 2000: 110)

 Singhi Chham: Singhi Chham is a recreational dance of Bhutia Community of Sikkim, performed mainly for recreation especially during Panglapsool festival. It has also religious associations. Mount Khan-chen-Dzong-pa (Kanchenjunga) the third highest mountain in the world is sacred to the people of Sikkim as their guardian deity. As decreed by Guru Rimpoche (Guru Padmasambhava), this majestic mountain stands guard over the land, holding within its crevices the sacred five treasures. Its associate peaks look like the legendary Snow Lion, fierce and fiery with its gorgeous mane hued in turquoise. The Snow Lion is considered an important cultural symbol of the state and is elaborately depicted in the Singhi Chham or the Snow Lion dance. Usually two or four dummy lions perform the dance. Each dummy Snow Lion is made of white fur and the face is bluish. Actually, it is total mask made of cloth and fur. Two dancers get into each lion mask and position themselves inside the mask in such a way that the Snow Lion looks somewhat like a real lion. The legs of the dancer positioned on the front become the two forelegs of the lion and the two legs of the dancer positioned at the back form the hind legs. With amazing synchronization the two dancers move so that the movement of the Snow Lion appears realistic. Only a drum is used with the dance. A man dressed in Tibetan dress controls and directs the dance of the Snow Lions (photo enclosed) (Bhutia, 2007).

Tungna Dance: It is the most beautiful and the simple dance of the Gurungs. One of the main occupations of the Gurungs is rearing herds of sheep in the Himalayan region. A legend has it, that a young Gurung shepherd was sitting by the side of a peaceful blue lagoon watching his sheep, which were grazing in the nearby hills. He was very sad and lonely as he was away from his home since long time. All of a sudden high in the sky a group of wild swans appeared. They were flying towards the Himalayas singing a sad tone. The song of the swans made him even more sad. All of a sudden he felt the wind bellowing and a dry branch of an old tree fell in the lake making waves in the water of the peaceful blue lagoon. An idea flashed in his mind. He took out his clothes swam into the lake and brought with him the big branches of the tree and made a Tungna with sheep skin and intestines. He began to play the strings made of sheep intestines with his fingers. The air was filled with the sounds of music of the Tungna which the young shepherd had created. He forgot all his sadness. He no more felt lonely as the Tungna, his own creation became his companion and with which he could share his joys and sorrows. In all recreational places and festivals the Tungna dance of Gurungs has become very popular in Sikkim (photo enclosed) (Gurung and Lama 2004: 178-181).

 Damphu Selo: This is a recreational dance of the Tamang Community of Sikkim. Both boys and girls take part in dancing and singing. The boys dance with Damphu, made of mountain goat skin (Nemorhaedus goral) one side wrapped and pegged around with 32 bamboo nails on a wooden circle known as Ghero made of Ambusing (Bahuhinia variegata). In practice goat skin is used in place of mountain goat skin. The songs are known as Selo. In the early period of nomadic life, a legend Tamang leader named Peng Dorjay went for hunting with some men with him. The whole day passed without a kill and as they were returning to their shelter disheartened Peng Dorjay's eyes fell on a mountain goat which was grazing on a high stony cliff. He moved forward cautiously and aimed his arrow at the goat and let it go from the bow, which flew at a great speed and struck the right place on the body of the goat. The goat came rolling down the cliff. It was dead. He carried it to his temporary place of halting. He skinned the animal and let the skin dry in the open ground. When the skin was dry completely he created the small roundish drum called Damphu. He offered his first prayer of thanks giving to god by playing the Damphu and singing Selo (song). This small drum Damphu still exists in the same form to this day without any change. The Tamang Selos are light with philosophical thoughts and express the day-to-day joys and sorrows of life. In all recreational places and festivals the Damphu Selo of Tamang has become very popular in Sikkim (photo enclosed) (Gurung and Lama, 2004).

   The different communities of Sikkim have a number of folk dances of their own, but all these folk dances cannot be described in detail in this chapter. However, most of these important folk dances have been listed out in their respective ethnography.