'Perini dance’ is also called 'Perini Thandavam' or 'Perini Shivatandavam'. It is a dance form usually performed by men.
It is also known as 'Dance of Warriors' because it was performed by the warriors in the honour of Lord Shiva for enthusiasm before going to the battlefield.
About 800 years old this dance form originated and prospered in Telangana during the Kakatiya dynasty. It is a folk dance of Telangana, which has been revived in recent times.
This dance is performed on the beat of the Dhol. During this the dancers take themselves to a state of mental abstraction, where they feel the power of Shiva.