Elements of Indian classical dance as per ‘Abhinaya Darpana Prakasha’ are divided into three distinct categories, namely, ‘Natya’, ‘Nritya’ and ‘Nritta’. ‘Natya’ is related to drama and ‘Nritya’ to the gesture accompanied by a musical composition. ‘Nritta’ refers to pure dancing where the body movements do not express any meaning. All these aspects use movements of the limbs and poses of the human body as their medium.Different Elements of Indian Classical Dance
The universal root of all Indian classical dance forms can be related to ‘Bharata’s Natyashastra’. According to the ‘Natyashastra’, Lord Brahma is the originator of the Universe and he has created the drama. The Indian classical dance forms are directed by the essential elements of an act with ‘abhinaya’ and ‘rasa’. Following are the different elements of Indian Classical Dance:
Abhinaya: The ‘Abhinaya’ is general to all the classical Indian dance forms. Throughout the ‘abhinaya’, viewers experience the particular emotions of the character or the situations that are represented by the performers. ‘Abhinaya’ is the expressional characteristic of dance or 'nritya'. There are four types of ‘Abhinaya’ and these are - ‘Angika’, ‘Vachikabhinaya’, ‘Aharyabhinaya’ and ‘Satvikabhinaya’.
Tandava and Lasya: ‘Tandava’ and ‘Lasya’ are the two other major elements. ‘Tandava’ is a dance which is performed for the adoration of the gods and its gentler aspect termed as ‘sukumara-prayoga’. ‘Lasya’ is used as a synonym of ‘Tandava’ occasionally. ‘Lasya’ is one of the forms mentioned in the description of ten types of Drama. ‘Abhinaya Darpana’ and ‘Sangitaratnakara’ describe ‘Tandava’ as the derived from of ‘Tandu’ and ‘Lasya’.
Navarasas: ‘Navarasas’ or the nine emotions of dance complete all the performances. ‘Navarasas’ is very significant in a dance act, since it permits the dancer and the ‘rasikas’ or the audiences to experience the full splendour and meaning of the lyrics.
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