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The group RajRang is made up of eight traditional Indian dancers and musicians.

To provide insight into the nature of human creativity, the world arts and cultures department has recruited an exclusive music group from western Rajasthan, India, that will demonstrate its unique culture through vibrant song and dance.

RajRang, an ensemble of eight artists from the vast desert of western India, will be joining UCLA for a special performance sponsored by the UCLA Center for Intercultural Performance, the Cultural Affairs Commission and the ethnomusicology department.

The group, which includes three vocalists, three musicians and two dancers, is preparing to perform today at noon in the Glorya Kaufman Dance Theater.

RajRang originates from Rajasthan, a state where extraordinary musical developments have occurred. Music from this region splits into two categories of professional musical communities: Langa and Manganiar. The resonant melodies of the two styles transform language and dig deep into the subconscious.

Dancers rely on the steady pulse of these musicians to surprise audiences with their dexterity and passion. Bhavi – one of the traditional dances of Rajasthan – consists of women balancing seven to nine brass pitchers on top of their heads as they demonstrate acrobatic movements along to music.

Teratali – the second dance RajRang is set to perform – is a religious dance to honor Ramdeo, the god of the downtrodden. The women in this dance have small copper cymbals tied to various body parts, and they hit the cymbals and produce an interesting sound pattern as they move. The dancers’ acrobatic skills along with the talent of the vocalists and musicians convey their heritage and spirituality.

“Their style is very exuberant. It’s joyful. It’s celebratory. It’s very direct. The performers are very skilled, yet they are not formally trained like in an academy,” said Judy Mitoma, director of the WAC Center for Intercultural Performance.

Rajasthan traditions in dance and music serve as a celebration of culture and life’s journey, which reflect the past, present and future.

“We sing for the generations to come. We sing of things like childbirth and weddings,” said Anwar Khan Manganiar, a RajRang vocalist.

Family ties are one of the most important parts of Rajasthan culture. The music and dance not only serve as outlets of worship but also as reminders of the strong cultural relationships within the family.

“They are taught by family lineage, and this makes them really important heritage carriers of their tradition,” Mitoma said. “Their tradition is very strong.”

In the desert, where the sky and the sand are the backdrop, the Rajasthanis gather in festivity to honor their community through its music and dance, singing in small groups or in large gatherings. Anyone in the community can participate during these festivities, dancing and singing traditional works or creating their own.

“If you are capable enough to absorb the music’s technicality, you can improvise and transform the music into your own that still come from the traditional roots,” said Kuldeep Kothari, director of Rupayan Sansthan, an Indian institution that promotes studies in ethnography.

Even through these musical changes, RajRang’s traditions have given it the foundation to survive and the enthusiasm to learn. Ensemble members believe that their performances have opened opportunities for incoming generations and encourage younger Rajasthanis to bring their culture’s traditions into the future.

RajRang is also scheduled to hold Indian dance workshops for students in various world arts and cultures courses.

Guest artists will work with interested students outside the department today in specific courses taught by Professors Mitoma, Amy Catlin-Jairazbhoy and Lynn Vally.

“It’s important for me that my students recognize the strength of (the Rajasthan) community and artistic factor and that they are strongly tied to each other, which makes their performance really remarkable,” Mitoma said.