If you watch carefully, you will find the snake is moving in synch with the movement of the charmer’s flute, as such is interpreted as a threat and the snake, generally a cobra, will maintain a defensive stance and follow the offending object closely. Such movements can be manipulated using a flute, stick, snake hook or bare hand. The movement of the snake will depend upon the movement of the charmer, as the snake will move left to right, up and down or circular fashion, following the “threat” of the charmer closely.
The “dancing” you have described is ritualistic courtship between male and female or ritualistic male combatting, between two males. The most spectacular “dances” often originate from male ritualistic combat, as two males compete for mating rights with a female. Such displays are not limited to Naja. spp. alone, as members of the genus Crotalus and many colubrids, especially Drymarchon spp., are renowned for their ritualistic mating and combat “dances”. However, I have found the appearance of male ritualistic combat to be more akin to arm wrestling, with the exception of a few displays I have witnessed…

Hope this helps,

Jeff

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Jeff Snodgres
University of Arkansas
snodgresjeffreys@uams.edu
501.603.1947

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