Indian Classical Dance

Dance in India, is rooted in age-old tradition. This vast sub-continent has given birth to varied forms of dancing, each shaped by the influences of a particular period and environment. India has a very rich tradition of classical dance. According to the Abhinaya Darpanam, and other medieval treatises, Indian Classical dance is divided into three aspects, Natya, Nritya and Nritta.

Natya which can also be called as Nataka corresponds to drama, it is the dramatic element; where the dancer becomes the character as in dance dramas like the Ramayana , it is a dramatic representation or drama with speech, music and dancing which has some traditional story theme.

'Naatyam tannaatakam chava pujyam purvakathaayutam', that is Natya or Nataka which has some traditional story for its theme is an adorable (art)'.

Nritya is a combination of both rasa or sentiment and bhava or mood. It means the combination of rhythm with expression through eyes, hands and facial movements this consists of both Nritta and expression. Nritya corresponds to the mime performed to the song, it is the Interpretative dance. The vaachikaabhinaya of natya where the actors themselves use speech is replaced by the music and song.

"The three chief features of nritya are the Sattwik abhinaya, the Angik abhinaya and the Aharya abhinaya. Nritya embraces all the three to produce aesthetic delight in the dance drama."

Nritta means the rhythmic movement of the body without any expression of emotion. It is a rigid stylization consisting of pure dance movements evoking neither emotion nor sentiment. It belongs to the realm of angik abhinaya alone and is thus on the divine plane. No Abhinaya is done only body movements are performed to the rhythm.

Here the movements of the body do not convey any mood or meaning and its purpose is just creating patterns in space and time.

These pristine forms (Natya, Nritya and Nritta) have been preserved through the centuries, to become a part of our present culture, a living heritage which is both our pride and delight.