# Natya

## Overview
In this chapter, students explore the Indian art form of *natya*, which combines storytelling with dance, drama, music, costumes, and choreography. Through the story of Krishna and the serpent Kaliya, learners understand how performance can convey emotions, calm the wild, and create peace. The chapter also highlights the importance of salutation and benediction in Indian theatrical traditions and encourages students to plan and present a dance drama.

## Key Topics Covered

### 1. What is Natya?
- **Definition**: Natya is storytelling through performance that includes dance, drama, music, and visual design.
- It combines **dialogue**, **movement**, **song**, **instruments**, **costumes**, and **makeup** to tell stories.
- The emphasis is not just on entertainment but on healing, teaching, and creating emotional connection.

### 2. The Story of Krishna and Kaliya
- Grandma narrates the tale of Krishna who tames the ferocious snake Kaliya by playing the flute and dancing on its hood.
- Emotions like fear, courage, and joy are depicted through expressive performance elements.
- The story ends on a positive note with harmony restored, showcasing how art transforms aggression into peace.

### 3. Importance of Salutation and Benediction
- All performances begin with a **salutation** to seek blessings for success and end with a **benediction** to thank the audience.
- This tradition aligns the performers spiritually and emotionally with the act of performance.
- A prayer example (by Purandara Dasa) is shared for both salutation and benediction, emphasizing devotion to Ganesha and Vishnu.

### 4. Activity: Planning the Performance
- Students are guided to **choreograph** the natya using the story.
- Elements to plan include:
- **Steps** and **rhythms** (5, 6, 7 beat cycles)
- **Navarasas**: Bhayanaka (fear), Raudra (anger), Veera (heroism)
- **Body movements**, **hip work**, **hand gestures (hastas)**, **jumps**, and **spins**

### 5. Structuring the Dance Drama
- Example sections for performance:
- **Salutation**: Prayer dance
- **Krishna and Friends**: Playful steps and rhythm
- **Kaliya’s Entry and Children’s Fear**: Serpentine and twisting movements
- **Fight Sequence**: Jumps, spins, combat rhythm
- **Celebration**: Joyful bandish-based choreography
- **Benediction**: Use of gestures and calm rhythms

### 6. Music, Costume and Props
- **Music**: Choose percussion or vocal music based on scene emotion.
- **Costumes and Props**:
- Krishna: flute, peacock feather, dhoti
- Animals: masks
- River: blue dupatta

### 7. Final Presentation
- Students collaborate in groups to rehearse and perform their natya.
- Encourages creativity, coordination, and emotional expression through dance and drama.

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## New Terms and Simple Definitions

| Term | Definition |
|--------------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Natya | Storytelling through performance involving drama, dance, and music |
| Choreography | The design and arrangement of dance steps and movements |
| Salutation | A prayer at the beginning of a performance to seek blessings |
| Benediction | A thankful prayer at the end of a performance |
| Navarasa | Nine emotional states used in Indian performance art |
| Hasta | Hand gesture used in classical Indian dance |
| Bhayanaka | The emotion of fear |
| Raudra | The emotion of anger |
| Veera | The emotion of heroism |
| Bandish | A structured musical composition in classical Indian music |

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## Practice Questions

### Easy (3)

1. **What is Natya?**
**Answer**: Natya is storytelling through performance that includes dance, drama, and music.
**Explanation**: It combines various art forms to present stories on stage.

2. **What did Krishna do to calm Kaliya?**
**Answer**: He played his flute and danced on Kaliya's hood.
**Explanation**: The music and dance calmed the angry serpent.

3. **What are some props used for Krishna in the performance?**
**Answer**: Flute, peacock feather, dhoti.
**Explanation**: These items represent Lord Krishna's identity.

### Medium (2)

4. **Why is salutation important in Indian natya tradition?**
**Answer**: It seeks divine blessings before a performance.
**Explanation**: Like prayers, salutations help focus and bring calm before acting.

5. **What do we mean by navarasa in natya?**
**Answer**: They are nine emotions expressed through acting and dance.
**Explanation**: Examples include anger (raudra), fear (bhayanaka), heroism (veera), etc.

### Difficult (3)

6. **Explain how body movements and hastas help in storytelling through dance.**
**Answer**: They visually express feelings and actions.
**Explanation**: For example, hand gestures can show animals or emotions clearly to the audience.

7. **What message does the story of Krishna and Kaliya convey through natya?**
**Answer**: Art has the power to transform fear and anger into peace.
**Explanation**: Through Krishna’s music and dance, even a fierce serpent becomes calm.

8. **Describe how different rhythmic beats (like 5, 6, 7) are used in planning natya.**
**Answer**: They add structure to movement and match mood or action.
**Explanation**: Faster beats for fighting, slower for prayers or emotional scenes.

### Very Difficult (2)

9. **Compose a short salutation or benediction to include in a natya performance.**
**Answer**: “Oh Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles, bless this act with peace and joy.”
**Explanation**: It shows spiritual alignment with performance.

10. **Discuss the relationship between audience and performer in natya.**
**Answer**: It is built on mutual respect and emotional connection.
**Explanation**: Performers share emotions through art, while audiences respond with appreciation, completing the cycle of storytelling.

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