The four dances of Thar

Dandan rand is the circle. Hands joined, the ring widens as the drum quickens, and the light in my paintings sits at the centre, where the floor is. Mitko is danced in pairs and is the softest of the four; I paint it with marigolds in the dust.

Chakkar rand is the spin. It is the dance most people picture when they picture Thar, and it is the one that lets the ghagra open into a full wheel. The tiles scatter outward with the hem. Rasooro is the stick dance: arms high, the daandiyaan striking on the beat, usually under an archway.

I have painted each of them dozens of times. They do not get old because the women do not dance them the same way twice.