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DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES

NRITTA, NRITYA AND NATYA

Dance comprises many units which are beautifully connected together. Some have joyous movements, some narrate a story or a situation and some tell the full story. Below are the definitions of nritta, nritya and natya given from the treatise, Abhinaya Darpana, a text widely followed by classical dancers.

नृत्तं - भावाभिनयहीनं तु नृत्तमित्यभिधीयते ॥ १७॥

nṛttah bhāvābhinayahīnam tu nṛttamityabhidhīyate

Nritta consists of dance with only movements without any specific emotive content or narrative.

नृत्यं – रसभावव्यञ्जनादियुक्तं नृत्यमितीर्यते ॥ १६॥

nṛtyam rasabhāvavyañjanādiyuktaṁ nṛtyamitīryate

Nritya combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava.

नाट्य – नाट्यं तन्नाटकं चैव पूज्यं पूर्वकथायुतम् ।

nāṭyaṁ : nāṭyaṁ tannāṭakaṁ caiva pūjyaṁ pūrvakathāyutam

Natya is a dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story.

You will explore the vocabulary of nritta and nritya in this chapter.

The most important unit of a dance form are the basic steps that need to be learnt. These steps form the dance vocabulary. The various steps are then strung together to make a dance.

ACTIVITY 11.1: BASIC STEPS AND RHYTHMS — NRITTA

You have been learning steps and rhythm in your earlier grades, now try some different rhythmic beats, i.e., 5, 6 and 7 beats. Add some permutations and combinations to this. Look at the images drawn below. They are combinations of steps exploring different beats. Do you wish to try your own combinations with various rhythms. Different ways the feet can be used are shown below —

Feet together	Heel — front, side	Toe — front and back	Cross in front
Cross at the back	Jump with one leg raised	Jump with both legs

You will use these foot positions and movements to build your dance.

Note to the Teacher: Suggestive step combinations are given on Page 118. Actual practice can be based on appropriateness, and convenience based on the region and level of learning. Beginners may try rhythms with simple steps as decided by the teacher. It can be aligned with maths for understanding counting and beats better.

Bols (rhythmic syllables) and counts for the beats can either be decided by the teacher or students.

5 BEATS ARE A COMBINATION OF 2 AND 3 BEATS

Examples for 5 beats or step counts.

1	2	3	4	5
STEP COMBINATION 1 Start with the right leg.
right	left	right	left	right
stamp	stamp	heel	stamp	stamp
Now, repeat with left leg.
left	right	left	right	left
stamp	stamp	heel	stamp	stamp
STEP COMBINATION 2 Start with the right leg.
right	right	left	right	left
jump	step	cross	step	stamp
Now, repeat with left leg.
left	left	right	left	right
jump	step	cross	step	stamp

Like the above combination of 5 beat steps, combine more steps with heel in front, heel to the side and other variations.

6 BEAT ARE A COMBINTION OF TWO 3 BEATS (3+3)

Examples of 6 beats or step counts.

1	2	3	4	5	6
STEP COMBINATION 1 1 Start with the right leg.
right	left	right	left	right	left
toe cross	stamp	heel front	stamp	stamp	stamp
Repeat with left leg.
left	right	left	right	left	right
toe cross	stamp	heel front	stamp	stamp	stamp
STEP COMBINATION 2 Start with the right leg.
right	Left	right	right	left	right
heel	stamp	stamp	toe cross	stamp	stamp
Repeat with left leg.
Left	right	left	left	right	right
heel	stamp	stamp	toe cross	stamp	stamp

Follow the above example and try different combinations of leg movements.

7 BEAT ARE A COMBINTION OF 3 AND 4 BEATS OR 3+2+2 OR 4+3 (3+3) OR 4+3

Examples for 7 beats or step counts.

1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg.
right	left	right	left	left	right	right
stamp	toe	stamp	heel	stamp	heel	stamp
Repeat with left leg.
left	right	left	right	right	left	left
stamp	toe	stamp	heel	stamp	heel	stamp
Step combination 2 Start with the right leg.
right	left	right	left	right	left	right
heel	stamp	stamp	cross	stamp	stamp	stamp
Repeat with left leg.
left	right	left	right	left	right	left
heel	stamp	stamp	cross	stamp	stamp	stamp

Practise the above rhythms in different patterns. You can use music bandishes given in music class and add arm movements of your choice.

NRITYA

In Kriti, Grade 6, you started with a shloka from the Abhinaya Darpana, that gave the concept of the use of hand gestures. This is connected to narration and concentration of the mind in bhava to evoke rasa for a successful performance. Let us recap the shloka and its meaning to present your nritya.

यतो हस्त स्ततो दृष्टि । यतो दृष्टि स्ततो मनः

यतो मनः स्ततो भावः । यतो भाव स्ततो रसः

yato hastastato dṛiṣhṭi, yato dṛiṣhṭistato manah

yato manastato bhāvah, yathobhāvastato rasah

Wherever the hand moves, the eyes follow;

Wherever the eyes go, the mind follows.

Where the mind is directed there bhava is created; Where there is bhava, rasa unfolds.

ONVERSATION USING HASTA

In Chapter 1, you learnt how hastas were skillfully used in sculptures to convey expressions and communicate specific messages. These hastas play a vital role in portraying emotions, and narratives in visual and symbolic ways.
You are familiar with the usages of asamyuta hastas which you have done earlier.

Note: Please refer to the Kriti, Grade 6 for asamyuta hasta usage.

Activity 11.2

Now, explore the various ways you can use samyuta hastas.

Here are some samyuta hastas with various uses.

NAME: Anjali USES •Namaskar	NAME: Karkata USES •Gathering of people •Show belly •Twist and stretch the limbs	NAME: Pushpaputa USES •Offer flowers •Drink water •Receive things •Perform aarti	NAME: Shakata USES •Anger •Demon	NAME: Shankh USES •Blow conch shell
NAME: Pasha USES •Disagreement •Tight knot •Chain	NAME: Kilaka USES •Friendship •Affection	NAME: Samputa USES •Hide object •Rolling dice	NAME: Matsya USES •Fish	NAME: Garuda USES •Eagle •Bird

Activity 11.3

Now, converse in the class using spelling — asamyuta and samyuta hastas (Refer to your asamyuta hasta usages from Kriti, Grade 6).

Demonstrate a meaningful sentence using both asamyuta and samyuta hastas in front of your friends, and let them guess its meaning.

Try short phrases first like:

WELCOME, MY FRIEND

Welcome

my friend

WE ARE TOGETHER

We are

together

DO NOT BE ANGRY AND FIGHT

Do not

be angry

fight

IN THE FOREST, THERE WAS A DEER

In the forest

there was

a deer

THERE ARE FISHES IN THE RIVER

There are

fishes

the river

Then, combine further to make full sentences. You can combine hand gestures as per your creativity.

Example:

• Welcome, my friend. Do not be angry and fight, let us go and play together.

• In the forest, there was a deer, flying birds and fish in the river.

Have fun conversations —

1. Do you know Karate? What are the different postures used in it?

2. Do you realise that it can be an important way of communication?

Note to the Teacher:

Note to the Teacher Sentence can be given by the teacher to individual student.

JUMPS AND PIROUETTES (SPINS)

IN HOW MANY WAYS CAN YOU JUMP AND SPIN IN DANCE?

Jumps, utplavana, pirouettes and bhramaris (spins) play an important role in a dance performance. The execution of jumps and pirouettes is another unit of dance vocabulary, which can be used in pure dance or to enhance emotive content.

Both jumps and pirouettes can be performed in rhythm with music beats, enhancing the overall impact of a dance. In a dance with stories, it can be without rhythm.

ACTIVITY 11.4: ENHANCING MY DANCE WITH JUMPS AND SPINS

You might have jumped and spun around while playing, dancing or engaging in everyday activities. Below are some examples of jumps and spins.

JUMPS

Jump with one leg raised	Jump with one leg to move in front
Jump by folding both the legs back	Jump without folding legs

Think, jump and spin with your friends. Did you enjoy it?

PIROUETTES

Different styles of jumps in dance

Spin on one leg	Spin spreading both hands in air

ANIMAL JUMPS AND PIROUETTES

Observe how different animals perform jumps and pirouettes in their natural movements.

How does a monkey jump from tree to tree?

How does a cat jump gracefully to land softly?

How do rabbits and kangaroos jump as if they have spring on their legs?

How elegantly does a peacock turn in circles while spreading its feathers?

These movements are an integral part of our folk, traditional and classical dance forms. In Karnataka’s Yakshagana, the artist performs pirouettes while standing on knees, often executing them multiple times. Kalbelia, a traditional dance from Rajasthan is performed in a circular motion while taking pirouettes in a circular path. In the Pung Cholom dance of Manipur, the drummers jump and spin holding a drum. Kathak, the classical dance form of northern India is characterised by the spins the dancer executes.

Activity 11.5

Search and watch the below-listed dance forms. Discuss and tick whether they include jumps, pirouettes or both.

Dance Form	Jumps	Pirouettes
Aji Lamu from Arunachal Pradesh
Cherchera from Chhattisgarh
Poykall Kuthirai (dummy horse) from Tamil Nadu
Googa Dhamoda from Haryana
Cham from Ladakh
Fugdi from Goa

Divide yourselves into four groups, and in each group try some of these jumps and pirouettes that you have observed in these dances.

Activity 11.6: Storytelling

STORYTELLING WITH OWN DANCE TECHNIQUES

You have learnt basic steps, expressing emotions appropriately based on the situation, effective use of hastas, and incorporating jumps and pirouettes, create your sequence of situations, incorporating all the above elements.

Game Time — Mookaabhinaya

Form two groups. The first group will act out a small situation using expressions and hand gestures. The other group must guess the situation. Continue the game for a few rounds and then decide the winning group.

It will be a lot of fun.

Note to the Teacher: Suggest different situations to children, depending on their level and ability.

ASSESSMENT

Chapter 11: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques

CG	C	Learning Outcomes	Teacher	Self
1	1.1	Understands basic techniques of combining different parts of feet for movement
1	1.2	Understands the rhythmic elements used for practising basic dance steps
1	1.2	Understands the importance of hand gestures as tool of communication
2	2.2	Correlates jumps and spins in various dances
2	2.2	Feels comfortable in practising jumps and spins
2	2.2	Uses all techniques to express oneself

Teacher’s Comments and Student’s Observations

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