Rasa boxes Origin: Sanskrit Theatre Ancient India Sources: Teaching Theatre Magazine Volume 22, No 3 Teaching Theatre Magazine Volume 15, No 2 Rasaboxes.org Theatreofoneworld.org

The Natyasastra A dramaturgical guide to all forms of Indian performing arts, including music, dance and drama Written between 500 BCE and 300 AD Contains information about acting, costumes, makeup, and props as well Also describes the rasic system of appreciating and practicing the performing arts

The Rasic System Emotion is a tangible element as knowable and transmutable as the flavors and presentation of a meal Audiences inhale, ruminate, taste and are nourished by performance, the same way that they might enjoy a delectable feast or savor a fine wine

RASA Rasa means “taste” , “Flavor” or “juice” but rather than referring only to the flavors of food, it embraces “emotional flavors”

The 9 Rasas (flavors of emotion) Hasya (laughter, the comic, mirth, mockery) Karuna(sadness, compassion, empathy, sorrow) Raudra (rage, annoyance, anger) Sringara (love, eros, sweetness, pleasure) Vira (courage, the heroic, daring, gallantry) Adbhuta(surprise, wonder, curiosity, awe) Bibhasta (disgust, revolt, aversion, loathing) Bhayanka(fear, shame, nervousness, terror) Shanta(peace, bliss, harmony)

WHY? The goal of Rasa Boxes is to develop the Emotional, vocal, and movement ability of performers to become what Antonin Artaud called an “Athlete of Emotions” It’s a great way to experience your own emotion, not to “ACT” but to learn to pull forth genuine emotion -which is the difference between a truly good actor and one who just going through the motions. Cover-Tucci believes that vulnerability is the key to experiencing these emotions in a real way. Without being vulnerable enough to actually experience the emotion, we’re just putting them on, just “playing” them. You can’t be concerned with how you look or who is watching when you’re experiencing the emotions

What do we do first? Each of the 9 rasas are written on a poster board Each student is to draw a pictorial representation of that rasa on the poster board for that rasa DO NOT draw over anyone else’s work DO NOT draw on Shanta