Kerala has a rich repertoire of folk dances. They reflect the temperaments and moods of the localities in music and costumes and are highly developed.  sowing of seeds festivals etc. Most of the folk dances are performed to the accompaniment of songs, which are sung by the dancers themselves or occasionally by a group of musicians. Some are performed to the accompaniment of musical instruments only

TheTheyyam: Theyyam or Kaliyattom is performed in the Temples of Malabar. A section of this art is known as Thira which represents lives of great heroes. It is usually performed by people of the backward community and is supposed to be nine centuries old. The performer after wearing a silk cloth round the waist and a crown on his head stands with devotion in front of the Devi Temple and recites ‘thottam’ describing the origin of the Theyyam he is about to perform. The Theyyam gets possessed and performs a rhythmic dance called urayal when the deity enters the body of the Theyyam.
The next ritual is called the ‘Uriyattu Kalapana’, when the devotees explain their problems to the Theyyam and in return the Theyyam explains how these difficulties may be overcome. Devotees offer money to the Theyyam. Different types of instruments like Drum, symbols etc are used a background music for the dance. It is performed at night and torches made of dried coconut leaves are used to light up the place.The Theyyam wears heavy makeup, masks, head gear bangles etc. The Potten and Gulikan Theyyams wear heavy facial make up and masks. They also use weapons such as swords, bows and arrows in addition to the colourful costumes.

The Mohiniyattam: This dance form is popular in Kerala. In the beginning Mohiniyattam performed usually in Temples, exclusively by ladies. It is very graceful and elegant dance from which consists of mudras, expressions and rhythmic steps. The lyrics and slokas were compared by Maharaja Swathy Thirunal, Irayimman Thampi and such other great poets, representing various types of emotions. Beatifully dressed Devadasi girls devoted to the Lord used to perform this dance form in Temples. Now of course it has became popular and is performed on the stage to the accompaniment of drums, violin and other instruments. The music in the Sopanam style and the dancers are dressed in traditional white. Bharata Munis Mudras and Abhinaya are strictly followed.

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