ਸੰਮੀ

Sammi (ਸੰਮੀ) is a traditional folk dance of Punjab, danced in a slow circle with swinging hands and gentle steps. It comes from the tribal belt of western Punjab, the Sandalbar and Pothohar country, and is best known as a women's dance in colourful kurtas, though men dance it at gatherings too.

What does sammi mean in Punjabi?

Sammi names the dance itself: a ring dance performed to folk songs, slow and swaying where bhangra is fast and leaping. Women who dance it wear colourful kurtas and lehengas, often with a silver hair accessory, and the songs carry tales of love, village life and women's feelings.

How is sammi danced?

The dancers form a ring and move with a slow flow, swinging their hands from the side and bringing them to the front, with small claps and a light hopping step worked into the turn. Some performances use sticks held in the hands. There is no drum led rush here: the singing of the dancers themselves, soft and melodious, sets the pace of the circle.

Where does sammi come from?

Sammi originates in the tribal belt of Punjab, particularly the Sandalbar area and the Pothohar region of Pakistani Punjab. In rural Indian Punjab it is kept alive as a women's dance in communities including the Sandhu, Jat and Dogar, performed at festivals and cultural gatherings. The Coke Studio song Sammi Meri Waar, sung by Umair Jaswal and Quratulain Baloch, carried the name of the dance to a worldwide audience.

How is sammi different from giddha?

Both are circle dances of Punjabi women, but their temper is different. Giddha is built around the boli, the sung couplets that tease and joke, with sharp clapping and quick turns. Sammi is slower and softer: the hands swing, the steps stay small, and the mood is one of swaying grace rather than wit. Where giddha performs for the wedding crowd, sammi belongs to the quieter gatherings of the village.