Who Is Gulabo Sapera?
Gulabo Sapera: From Being Buried Alive to Becoming the Soul of Kalbeliya Dance
In the golden sands of Rajasthan, where tradition often casts a long and unyielding shadow, a baby girl once fought death in silence beneath the earth. That child, born into the Kalbeliya (Sapera) community, survived an attempted infanticide simply because she was a girl. She would grow up to become Gulabo Sapera—an internationally acclaimed dancer, a cultural ambassador, a Padma Shri awardee, and above all, a symbol of resilience.
This is the remarkable story of Gulabo Sapera—who rose from being buried alive at birth to becoming the global face of the Kalbeliya dance form.
A Death Sentence at Birth
Gulabo Sapera was born in 1973 in Kotda, a small village near Ajmer in Rajasthan. In her nomadic community of snake charmers, daughters were not welcomed with joy—they were seen as a liability. The birth of a girl was often met with rejection, and in some horrifying cases, outright murder. When Gulabo was born—the seventh daughter in the family—the elders decided she should not live.
Shortly after her birth, she was buried alive in a shallow pit in accordance with a regressive custom that treated female children as burdens. But fate had other plans.
Her mother, overcome with grief, couldn’t bear the loss. With the help of Gulabo’s aunt, she returned to the site and dug up the infant—miraculously still alive after more than seven hours underground. That act of defiance, of maternal courage, marked the beginning of an extraordinary life.
From the Brink of Death to Dancing with Life
The near-death experience was followed by another life-threatening illness when Gulabo was just a year old. Her health deteriorated so rapidly that doctors believed she wouldn’t survive. But again, she clung to life. A rose flower placed beside her as a token of hope led to her being named ‘Gulabi’—a name that eventually became Gulabo.
Her childhood was marked by both struggle and curiosity. Gulabo accompanied her father, who was a traditional snake charmer, to performances across Rajasthan. She was deeply fascinated by the rhythm of the been (pungi) and the fluid grace of snakes. Mimicking their movements, she began forming the foundational style of what would eventually become her signature dance.
At a time when women in her community were discouraged—even prohibited—from performing publicly, Gulabo was quietly absorbing, learning, and expressing herself through dance.
The Spirit of Kalbeliya Awakens
Kalbeliya dance, traditionally performed by the women of the Kalbeliya tribe, mimics the movements of serpents. Dancers wear flowing black garments embroidered with mirrors and threads, twirling gracefully to hypnotic folk rhythms. It’s not just an art form—it’s a cultural expression of a historically marginalized community.
At the age of 10, Gulabo gave her first public performance at the Pushkar Mela. Her talent was instantly noticed, but it also brought criticism from within her own community. A woman dancing on public platforms? It was considered dishonorable.
But Gulabo danced on.
Her ability to seamlessly channel the sinuous grace of serpents, her fierce energy, and her emotional depth set her apart. She wasn’t just performing—she was reclaiming the cultural identity of her people, giving voice and pride to a tradition that had been buried under layers of stigma and neglect.
From Rural Stages to International Arenas
In 1985, barely a teenager, Gulabo was selected to represent India at the “Festival of India” held in the United States. It was her first journey abroad—and a monumental one. Her performances received thunderous applause. She wasn’t just a folk dancer from Rajasthan anymore; she had become a global ambassador of India’s rich cultural heritage.
From the USA to France, Germany to Japan, Gulabo danced on stages across more than 165 countries. Her black ghagra swirling like desert winds, her movements echoing ancient tribal rhythms, she became a celebrated figure of India’s living traditions.
She broke through cultural barriers with elegance and grit, turning what was once looked down upon as a tribal folk form into a source of national pride.
Teacher, Mentor, and Preserver of Heritage
Not content with personal success alone, Gulabo established the Gulabo Sapera Dance Academy in Rajasthan to train young girls in Kalbeliya dance. Her goal: to keep the tradition alive and give rural girls opportunities she never had.
Many of her students come from disadvantaged backgrounds. For them, dance is not only a source of income but also a form of liberation. Under Gulabo’s mentorship, they have traveled across the world, performed on international platforms, and discovered their own voices.
She has also worked on fusing Kalbeliya with global musical genres, collaborating with international artists from Denmark and France. This has led to the modernization and fusion of the dance form, helping it gain even wider acceptance without diluting its essence.
A Social Reformer in Her Own Right
Despite her fame, Gulabo remained closely tied to her community. She used her position and influence to challenge the very customs that nearly killed her.
When she was elected president of the Kalbeliya caste association, she placed a clear condition: no more female infanticide. She publicly denounced the practice and worked tirelessly to change mindsets. Under her leadership, the birth of girl children in her community began to be celebrated—something unthinkable just a generation ago.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when traditional artists were hit hard due to canceled shows and financial hardships, Gulabo took to the internet. She taught online dance classes and organized fundraisers to support struggling performers. Even while isolated at home, she continued to serve her community with commitment and compassion.
A National Treasure
In 2016, the Government of India awarded Gulabo Sapera the Padma Shri, one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. It was a recognition not only of her artistic excellence but of her role as a cultural custodian and social reformer.
Today, she is not just the face of Kalbeliya—she is its heartbeat. Her life is now a subject of documentaries, dance workshops, and academic discussions. And yet, at her core, she remains the girl who once danced with snakes, not out of fear but with fierce joy and defiance.
Conclusion: Dancing Over the Graves of Old Beliefs
Gulabo Sapera’s life is a narrative of transformation—from a child sentenced to death by custom, to a woman who challenged those customs head-on and emerged victorious. Her art saved her, gave her a purpose, and allowed her to save others.
In her swirling skirts and hypnotic spins, she carries the memory of pain, the fire of rebellion, and the grace of survival. Through her dance, she has not only preserved a tradition but redefined what it means to be a woman in a world that once tried to silence her.
Her story is a timeless reminder that even in the darkest of places, something beautiful can rise—and sometimes, it dances.
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