Chapter Overview
5
Veda (Nāṭya Veda)
3
Phases of Production
2
Forms (Tandava, Lasya)
6
Grade Reference
What You'll Learn
Origin of Dance
Understanding mythological origins from Nāṭyaśhāstra and Abhinaya Darpaṇam, including creation of Nāṭya Veda.
Tandava and Lasya
Learning about rigorous tandava taught by Mahadeva and graceful lasya by Parvati.
Legends and Storytelling
Exploring stories from Puranas, Jataka Tales, Panchatantra for moral messages in dance.
Dance Production
Planning, choreographing, and performing a dance production integrating other subjects.
Historical and Mythological Context
The chapter explores dance origins from Abhinaya Darpaṇam: Brahma creates Nāṭya Veda from Vedas, gives to Bharata Muni. Bharata performs; Mahadeva teaches tandava via Tandu; Parvati teaches lasya to Usha, spreading to earth. Legends like Ganga's descent offer moral values for contemporary interpretations.
Key Highlights
Dance as nṛtta, nṛitya, nāṭya; creating productions with phases: planning, rehearsals, performance; integrating subjects like theatre, visual arts; examples of innovative choreography with Kathak, Santhali, Dollu Kunitha; assessment on collaboration and creativity.
Comprehensive Chapter Summary
1. Introduction to Dance Terms
Dance called nṛtta, nṛitya or nartana; dance-drama as nāṭya in ancient texts like Nāṭyaśhāstra and Abhinaya Darpaṇam.
2. Origin of Dance
Nāṭya Veda Creation
Brahma derives from four Vedas, creates fifth Veda (Nāṭya Veda); gives to Bharata Muni who masters nṛtta, nṛitya, nāṭya.
First Performance
Bharata with Gandharvas, Apsarās performs; Mahadeva in audience, pleased, offers tandava lessons via gana Tandu.
Tandava and Lasya
Tandu teaches tandava to sages, then humans; Parvati teaches lasya to Usha, who teaches gopis of Dwarka, then women of Saurashtra.
3. Legends as Sources
Storytelling
Legends from Puranas, Jataka Tales, Panchatantra offer narratives for visual spectacles with moral messages, relevant today.
Ganga Descent Example
Showcases woman's strength (Ganga), nature's collaboration (Mahadeva controls force), perseverance (Bhagirath), river respect/pollution issues.
4. Creating Dance Production: Once Upon A Dance…
Phase 1: Planning and Pre-Production
Brainstorm theme/storyline (myth to contemporary); style/groups/props; music; roles (choreographer, performers, etc.); integrate subjects; venue/dates.
5. Phase 2: Choreography and Rehearsals
Choreographic Stages
Break story into scenes; explore movements/emotions; use sthānas, chāris, hastas; breath/rhythm/silence; rehearsals with formations, review.
Production Design
Finalize props/costumes/lights; dress/technical rehearsals.
6. Phase 3: Performance
Grand rehearsal with feedback; final performance; post-show reflections.
7. Innovative Choreography Examples
Images of Kathak with Santhali (Jharkhand), Dollu Kunitha (Karnataka) showing fusion.
8. Assessment
Learning outcomes: Collaborate enthusiastically; participate in all stages; understand origins; apply creativity in performance elements.
9. Summative Assessment
Individual: Demonstrate sequences, express bhavas, project. Group: Choreograph social issue, story performance; criteria for clarity, creativity, collaboration.
Questions and Answers from Chapter
Short Questions
Q1. What is dance called in ancient times?
Answer: Nṛtta and nṛitya or nartana.
Q2. What is dance-drama called?
Answer: Nāṭya.
Q3. Who created Nāṭya Veda?
Answer: Brahma Deva.
Q4. Who received Nāṭya Veda?
Answer: Bharata Muni.
Q5. Who taught tandava?
Answer: Mahadeva via Tandu.
Q6. Who taught lasya?
Answer: Devi Parvati.
Q7. Who taught lasya to gopis?
Answer: Usha.
Q8. What sources for storytelling?
Answer: Puranas, Jataka Tales, Panchatantra.
Q9. What showcases woman's strength?
Answer: Devi Ganga.
Q10. Who helped control Ganga's force?
Answer: Mahadeva.
Q11. Who exemplifies perseverance?
Answer: King Bhagirath.
Q12. What is Phase 1?
Answer: Planning and Pre-Production.
Q13. What is Phase 3?
Answer: Performance.
Q14. What for grand rehearsal?
Answer: Feedback and notes.
Q15. What for summative assessment?
Answer: Individual and group.
Medium Questions
Q1. Explain Nāṭya Veda creation.
Answer: Brahma derived from four Vedas, created fifth Veda, gave to Bharata Muni who mastered aspects. (3 marks)
Q2. Describe first performance.
Answer: Bharata with Gandharvas, Apsarās; Mahadeva pleased, offered tandava lessons. (3 marks)
Q3. How tandava spread?
Answer: Tandu taught to sages, who taught humans; rigorous form. (3 marks)
Q4. How lasya reached earth?
Answer: Parvati to Usha, Usha to gopis of Dwarka, then women of Saurashtra. (3 marks)
Q5. What are legends' roles?
Answer: Rich sources for storytelling with moral messages, relevant when interpreted contemporarily. (3 marks)
Q6. Describe Ganga story values.
Answer: Woman's strength, nature collaboration, perseverance, river respect/pollution. (3 marks)
Q7. What for dance production?
Answer: Bring legend/historical to contemporary, plan performance. (3 marks)
Q8. List Phase 1 elements.
Answer: Theme/storyline, style/groups, music, roles, subjects integration, venue. (3 marks)
Q9. What in choreography stages?
Answer: Break story, explore movements/emotions, use elements, breath/rhythm. (3 marks)
Q10. Describe rehearsals.
Answer: Regular with goals, teach groups, formations, review/tweak. (3 marks)
Q11. What for production design?
Answer: Finalize props/costumes/lights, dress/technical rehearsals. (3 marks)
Q12. Explain Phase 3.
Answer: Grand rehearsal feedback, final performance, reflections. (3 marks)
Q13. What innovative examples?
Answer: Kathak with Santhali, Dollu Kunitha; fusion choreography. (3 marks)
Q14. List learning outcomes.
Answer: Collaborate, participate stages, understand origins, apply creativity. (3 marks)
Q15. Describe summative assessment.
Answer: Individual sequences/project; group choreography/performance; criteria clarity/creativity. (3 marks)
Long Questions
Q1. Discuss the origin of dance from Abhinaya Darpaṇam.
Answer: Brahma created Nāṭya Veda from Vedas, gave to Bharata Muni who mastered nṛtta/nṛitya/nāṭya; performed with Gandharvas/Apsarās; Mahadeva taught tandava via Tandu to sages/humans; Parvati taught lasya to Usha, who to gopis, then Saurashtra women, spreading dance to earth.
Q2. Explain tandava and lasya forms.
Answer: Tandava: Rigorous, from Mahadeva, pleased with performance, offered lessons; Tandu taught to sages/humans. Lasya: Graceful, Parvati trained Bharata; taught Usha (Bana's daughter), who to gopis of Dwarka, then Saurashtra women; reached earth.
Q3. How legends provide storytelling sources?
Answer: Puranas, Jataka Tales, Panchatantra offer narratives for visual spectacles with deep moral messages; relevant today when interpreted contemporarily, like Ganga descent teaching values.
Q4. Analyze Ganga descent story meanings.
Answer: Strength/resolve of woman (Ganga); nature elements/Gods collaborate (Mahadeva controls force); unwavering faith/perseverance (Bhagirath); contemporary river pollution/plight; respect/keep rivers clean/pure.
Q5. Describe creating dance production process.
Answer: Choose legend/historical to contemporary; Phase 1: Brainstorm theme/story, style/groups/props, music, roles, integrate subjects, venue. Like foundation in construction.
Q6. Explain Phase 2: Choreography and Rehearsals.
Answer: Break story scenes; explore movements/emotions/characters; use sthānas/chāris/hastas/creativity; breath/rhythm/silence; regular rehearsals goals, teach groups, formations/entrances/exits, review/tweak; production design props/costumes/lights, dress/technical rehearsals.
Q7. Discuss Phase 3: Performance.
Answer: Grand rehearsal like show, invite feedback, note wrongs; final performance enjoy; post-show reflections/feedback. Take bow, smile, heart dance on.
Q8. How integrate other subjects in production?
Answer: Theatre: Script/acting/dialogue; Visual Arts: Set/costume/make-up/props; Music: Instruments/songs/score; Maths/Computing: Budgets/timing/lighting cues.
Q9. Describe roles in production.
Answer: Choreographer: Designs/rehearsals; Performers: Dancers/actors; Director: Oversees; Script writer: Dialogues/narration; Music Director: Music/effects; Set/Prop: Backdrops/props; Lighting/Tech: Lights/sounds; Costume/Make-Up: Looks; Marketing: Promotion.
Q10. Explain learning outcomes in assessment.
Answer: Engage collaboratively sharing ideas; participate all stages planning/choreography/performance; understand mythological/cultural narratives origins; apply imagination/creativity in movement/music/costume/space/expression.
Q11. Discuss individual summative assessment.
Answer: Demonstrate movement sequence posture/movement/breath; perform nṛtta/nṛitya sequences; express two bhavas with hastas/explain; complete project; criteria clarity/awareness/understanding/comfort/depth/creativity.
Q12. Describe group summative assessment.
Answer: Choreograph dance social issue; develop/present story performance; criteria originality/creativity/concept/presentation; effective collaboration/teamwork.
Q13. How Ganga story for dance production?
Answer: Powerful tale importance rivers/nourishing life; deeper: woman strength, nature collaboration, perseverance, pollution plight, respect/clean rivers; bring to contemporary production.
Q14. Explain innovative choreography examples.
Answer: Kathak with Santhali (Jharkhand), Dollu Kunitha (Karnataka); fusion traditional/contemporary.
Q15. Discuss reference to Grade 6 Theatre.
Answer: Recall story birth performing arts; similarly, birth dance from Abhinaya Darpaṇam.
