Natya – The Spirit of Dance By Apsara Asia and Maya Dance Theatre Post-Show © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Let’s recall! Round Robin What is Natya – The Spirit of Dance about? Did you enjoy the show? Why? State ONE thing you learned from it. What is a hasta? What is thaala? What is abhinaya? © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Hastas A hasta is… a hand gesture that tells a story. It can represent an object, animal or action. One hand gesture can have many meanings depending on the situation/story. In Bharatanatyam, there are: 32 single hand gestures called as Asamyukta hasta 23 double hand gestures called as Samyukta hasta. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

One hasta you saw during the show Try and recall… One hasta you saw during the show What does it represent? Show it to your partner. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Asamyukta Hasta Try these out… 1. Tripitaaka 2. Mrigasheersha 3. Kartarimukha It can represent… A crown A tree An arrow Thunder A lamp A pigeon It can represent… A Deer’s head Women’s cheek A wheel A lute It can represent… Scissors Death Lightning Sleeping Image Source: http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/index1/ © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

samyukta Hasta Try it out… Anjali Putting it together… Both palms, joined together no spaces between fingers It can represent… a greeting to the gods, elders, or teachers Image Source: http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/index1/ © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

samyukta Hasta Try it out… 2. Samputha Putting it together… cup both palms together leave a hollow in the middle of the palms It can represent… a closed box a secret Image Source: http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/index1/ © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

samyukta Hasta Try it out… 3. Varaha Putting it together… TWO mrigasheersha put together (Remember this from the earlier slide?) right palm above, left below It can represent… a wild pig or a boar Image Source: http://onlinebharatanatyam.com/index1/ © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

samyukta Hasta Try it out… 4. Pushpaputa Putting it together… inner palms face up create a hollow in the middle of each palm join both palms together where the little fingers are It can represent… a plate or a bowl offering flowers to the gods accepting water Image Source: http://www.indianetzone.com/38/pushpaputa_mudra.htm © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Tell a story with Hastas Task: In your groups, think of an everyday situation or event, for example, telling a friend a secret or waiting for the bus. Convey this situation/event using some of the hastas you have learned. Like a charade, you are not allowed to talk or use props. Get your friends to guess what the situation or event is. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Abhinayas – Facial expressions Can you recall the NINE navarasas (moods) that abhinayas (expressions) produce? © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

The 9 navaRasas… Srinigar – Love Hasya – Humour Raudra – Anger Karuna – Compassion Veera – Heroism Beebatsam – Disgust Bhayanaka – Fear Arputha – Astonishment Shanta – Peace © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

FREEZE FRAME! Task: Split into groups. You will be randomly assigned a navarasa. Do not reveal this to the other groups In your group, come up with a FREEZE FRAME of the navarasa you have been assigned. Show the emotions clearly on your face and body postures. The rest of the class has to guess which of the navarasas your group is trying to portray. You may incorporate mudras in your freeze frame © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Example of a freeze frame © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Make-up and Costumes of Bharatanatyam Look at the dancer’s eyes and the make-up in this picture. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

The Eyes Describe how the eyes are drawn. What are the black lines you see around the dancer’s eyes? Why do you think lines are draws around the eyes? © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

The Eyes The black lines are drawn using an eyeliner or traditionally, using kajal a black paste. Kajal is used to outline the eyes and to make the brows darker. Lines drawn are usually thick and dark. Dancers make their eyes more prominent so that their expressions can be seen clearly by audiences as facial expressions are very important in bharatanatyam. When a dancer performs the dancer's eyes follows the hastas. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Tilak Dancers also use the tilak as part of their costumes. The tilak is the mark you see in between the eyes and just above the bridge of the nose. Can you spot where the tilak is in this picture? A tilak © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Tilak Traditionally tilak is made from red turmeric, sandalwood and holy ash. The area between the eyebrows is known as the 'agna‘. Some believe that the agna is an important area in Hinduism as this is where focus and concentration comes from.   © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Anklets Bharatanatyam dancers sometimes use anklets with bells They are worn so as to draw attention to the beat and rhythm of the footwork. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Altha The fingertips and feet are sometimes outlined in red liquid. This red liquid is known as altha. Red is considered an auspicious colour in Indian culture. It is used to bring attention to the hastas. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Jewellery Dancers use many ornaments. These ornaments are known as ‘temple jewellery’. Traditionally, the jewellery is made of gold and studded with red and green precious gems. Now, there are many different designs and stones that are used depending on the performance. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

What type of jewellery is worn by male and female dancers. Head jewellery (placed at the crown of the forehead, and attached to the hair bun) On the ears (ear rings that are big and heavy) Necklace Bangles Waist belt Male dancers: Armband Bracelets No head piece or earrings © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Bollywood Watch the next video taken from a Bollywood movie. Take a close look at the make-up and costumes and answer these questions after. What type of costumes are the dancers wearing? Why are the colours of the costumes bold and vibrant? How are the costumes suitable for this dance? Are there any similarities and differences between the costumes and make-up in this video and a Bharatanatyam dancer’s costume and make-up? Dancers are wearing ethnic Indian costumes. Bold and strong to convey the theme of the song; celebratory mood, upbeat song The costumes accentuate the dancers’ movements for example, the soft skirts make the dancers look obvious when they are spinning. They also wear a lot of jewellery. However the make-up is not as thick and does not accentuate the features such as the eyes. Facial expressions are less important in conveying emotions. © The Esplana’de Co. Ltd

Bollywood © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Reflect… State 3 things you enjoy about Indian dance. State 2 things that you learned about Indian dance. State 1 thing you would like to find out more about after this lesson. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Suggested Extension Activity 1 Group work: Find out more about ONE ethnic dance form that can be found in any of the communities in Singapore and its basic dance steps. Create a simple dance routine to teach your classmates. Your dance steps must use some of the basic dance steps of the dance form you are researching on. You can use any song you want. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd

Suggested Extension Activity 2   Group work: Select ONE ethnic dance form that you can find in any of the communities in Singapore. Find out more about how the make-up, jewellery and costumes of that dance form look like. Dress up your friend/friends in a similar costume and make-up for a SHOW AND TELL.  During the show and tell, explain to your friends more about the costumes and make-up and its importance. © The Esplanade Co. Ltd