Tribal Dance in Southern India preoccupies itself with the tribal features and associated characteristics. Tribal dance forms of Southern India replicate the long drawn tradition and rituals of the land and reveal all its cultural glory. Certain tribal dances are accompanied by songs. Either the dancers themselves sing or the on-lookers sing and thus participating in the performances. Special musical instruments are sometimes used but drum is almost an indispensable feature of the tribal dance forms in Southern India. Following are the different Tribal Dance in Southern India:

Paniyar Kali Dance: Paniyar Kali is a very manly dance presented by the men of the Paniyar tribe. The old percussion instruments like "Karu", "Para" and "Udukku" are used in the dance presentation and dancers, numbering about 8 to 10; stand in a circle with their hands linked jointly. They move around musically and beat the ground in wonderful rhythm to the beats of the percussion instruments.

Meduva Kali Dance: "Meduva Kali" is a tribal dance performed by both men and women and it is an element of wedding ceremony in the community. Local percussions like drums go with the dance and the performers move in small circles rhythmically with the music instruments.

Mayura Dance: Practiced by "Kondh" tribe, this dance is performed in marriage. "Pirodi" is the flute that is used in this dance performance.

Kambara Dance: Kambara Dance is a different tribal dance that is general amongst the "Adiya" community of Wayanad district. The community has high respect for agriculture exercises and "Kambara Nritham" is their method to communicate it.

Naikkar Kali Dance: Naikkar Kali is a different tribal dance form common among the tribes of Wayanad and Malappuram districts.

Mudiyattom Dance: Mudiyattom Dance is a tribal dance performed only by the women. Musical instruments like "karu", "maram", "para" and "kokkaro" come with the presentation and simple elegant movements of the head standing on small wooden boxes. In the opening the participants bend their heads very gradually which later end in fast graceful movements.

Kurumbar Nritham Dance: This dance performance is performed by the "Kurumba" tribe on marriage events. The relatives of the bride and groom execute this dance before marriage while the bride and the groom execute it following marriage. The dance is performed once more at the bridegroom"s house once the bride reaches there with the groom.

Tappetagullu Dance: It is a tribal dance of "Yadava", community and is performed by men. Believed as a devotional dance form, Tappeta Gullu is very popular in districts of Vizianagaram and Srikakulam.

Dollu Kunitha Dance: Dollu Kunitha is a well-liked drum dance of Karnataka accompanied by singing. It supplies both amazing variety and difficulty of skills in the process of display. This dance form is mostly performed by the men of the shepherd community known as the Kuruba community.

Gusadi Dance: Gusadi dance is performed by "Raj Gonds" in "Adilabad tribals". They carry out this dance on the celebration of "Diwali" festival, other "Gonds" groups also join with "Raj Gonds" and they are called "Dandari Dance groups". This festival begins on the full moon day and ends with 14th day of dark-night of Diwali.

Chindu Bhagavatam Dance: Earlier this dance form was not allowed to perform outside but things have changed now. "Chindu Bhagavatam" originated in "nizamabad", "adilabad", "karimnagar", "medak", "mahabubnagar" and "nalgonda".

Lambadi Dance: Lambadi dance is presented by Banjara Telangana Tribals. It mostly consists of Planting, Harvesting and sowing activities. Lambadi dance forms are performed by females only; males operate music instruments and drummers.

Kaadar Nritham Dance: It is one of the general tribal dance forms of Kerala where only women participate. This dance form is popular among the Kadar tribe of Kochi forests and is a primitive form. It is simple but very elegant dance form. The performers arrange themselves in a semicircle.

Karagam Dance: Karagam is another Indian tribal dance form of Tamil Nadu dedicated to Goddess Mariamman, the Goddess of health and rain. Men and women balance pots of uncooked rice on their heads to the accompaniment of pipes and drums.

Kunitha Dance: "Kunitha" is a generic term, emblematic of a ritualistic dance in Karnataka. In the "Punja Kunitha", a wooden structure is balanced on the head with a deity within it. The "Dollu Kunitha" is a much-admired drum dance of Karnataka. The men play on large drums decorated with coloured cloth, slung around their necks, beating on it as they dance.

Indian tribal dances are truly varied and umpteen, much like the country`s other aspects, united with diversity.