Fundamentals and Terminology of Dance
This section addresses Fundamentals and Terminology of Dance: the vocabulary examiners use to separate pure movement, expressive dance and dramatic representation. Expect definition questions, term-matching and short applications.
Core terms
- Nritta: abstract, rhythmic movement; no story or emotional intent.
- Nritya: expressive dance; gesture and face carry meaning.
- Natya: dramatic representation, including dialogue, characterization and stage action.
- Abhinaya: four modes-Angika (body), Vachika (speech or song), Aharya (costume and make-up), Sattvika (inner emotion).
- Anga, Pratyanga and Upanga: major limbs, intermediate limbs and minor limbs.
- Tandava and lasya: vigorous, energetic quality and graceful, soft quality; they are not male and female categories.
- Hasta or mudra: hand gestures; in Sattriya, gestures are integrated with tala and khol.
Worked example
A candidate watches a passage: the dancer strikes rhythmic poses with no narrative, then mimes a bee seeking a lotus, then plays a priest in a dialogue. Reasoning: the first passage is nritta because its purpose is rhythmic pattern; the second is nritya because gesture and bhava communicate a bee; the third is natya because characterization and dramatic situation appear. A strong answer names the evidence, not just the labels.
Traps
Do not equate nritya with dance that has music; nritta also has music. Do not call every hand position a mudra-some are descriptive hastas. Do not use tandava as a synonym for male dance; it is a quality. In Sattriya, do not ignore khol and cymbal cues when identifying phrases.