Professional musicians, actors and dancers travel from village to village performing their dance dramas. This seems to be a rural extension of the ancient theatrical tradition found in the Natya Shastra . However, it appears to have degenerated into a rural tradition. One example of the folk theatre is the Yaksha Gana of Karnatika. The difference between the two is cultural.
Folk dances are the rural extensions of the larger Indian population.
Examples are the Bhangra and the Garba . However, the tribal dances are performed by India's aboriginal populations. These people, known as adivasi , have a culture which is very distinct from the larger Indian population. A common example of a tribal dance is the Santhali It may be academically desirable to separate tribal from simple folk dances, however this is generally not done. Artists do not concern themselves with these academic matters.