an e magazine from ASSAM & NAGALAND      

The Expressional Part- The Natya Shashtra is an ancient text on dance, written by Saint Bharata around 300 B.C. – 500 B.C. This text deals with each and every detail of Indian Classical dances; on the contrary the very base of the Indian Classical dances is the Bharata’s Natya Shashtra. This part especially emphasizes on the nine emotions known as nava rasa and the permanent and temporary feelings associated with it. The nine emotions that a human being possesses are-

1. Shringaar Rasa (love), 2. Hashya Rasa (laugh), 3. Karun (pity), 4. Raudra (anger), 5. Veer Rasa (strong/courageous), 6. Bhayanak Rasa (Terrifying), 7.

Bibhats Rasa (Ugly), 8. Adbhut Rasa (Surprising), 9. Shaant Rasa (Peaceful) The nine emotions mentioned above involve a number of expressions during performing like the facial expression (mukhaja abhinaya), eye movements (netra abhinaya) & eyebrow movements (bhru sanchalan). These various expressions make the facial muscles flexible and energize the blood circulation. It is a kind of exercise in itself that is responsible for the movements of lips, chin, forehead, cheeks, eyes, eyebrows and nose. This part also deals with the four different types of acting (abhinaya) – Angika abhinaya, Aharya abhinaya, Vachika abhinaya, Satvika abhinaya

These four abhinayas provide immense help and support to the dancer regarding acting, stage presentation, stage settings and props, how to develop a theme into a musical dance-drama, etc. Such performance builds confidence, courage, leadership qualities, a sense of timing, team spirit in the performer who can ultimately move the entire audience into his imagination. He can also acquire knowledge about lights, music, costumes, props, etc. that is to be used in the play.

Most of the gestures of body and hands has a close relation with yoga. The body postures have a fine alignment and grace. The different body movements, facial expressions and hand gestures used in Indian classical dance deals with every organ and other systems like the autonomous nervous system, respiratory system, central nervous system and the digestive tract in detail. There is an adjustment of the fine neuro muscles and the co-operating nerve fibres through a connection of the autonomous nervous system and the involuntary organs like heart muscles, blood vessels of the respiratory system and the muscles of the digestive tract. As dance creates a connection between the autonomous and the central nervous system, the exercises of the skeletal muscles influences both these nervous systems thus heightening the balance between the reciprocal nerve fibres regulating the heart muscles, blood vessels and the intestinal tract.

The dancer while performing displays kinesthetic skills in coordination of movements, balance, synchronization, dexterity, strength, speed, and flexibility, interpersonal intelligence in communicating with an audience; intrapersonal intelligence in feeling the emotions of the performance; logical-mathematical skills in analyzing musical structure upon which he/she is performing and creating an imaginary object that practically does nor exist. The individual expertly uses the entire body to relate thoughts and feelings. Movement plays a vital role in human activity and it is a central feature of early learning. The individual develops an ability to manipulate objects skillfully, using both fine and gross motor movements. In the learning process or in the classroom, as the learners use their body to answer the trainer’s gestured questions, they develop quick mental action, good coordination and balance in physical movements.