The book I chose for my project is the Natya Shastra. It is
essentially the treatise of Indian Classical Dance, and holds all the rules for
the dance form. Originally written between the 1st century BC and 3rd
Century CE by Bharata Muni, it has codified not only Bharatanatyam, but also
all other classical forms of dance in India. The version I am reading is
translated by the Royal Asiatic Society in 1944. Although many mistakes have
crept into the translation, for a txt that was originally written such a long
time ago, it will be able to provide ample information for the ISP. The text not only covers the core aspects of
dance, but also organizes all aspects of staging, including stage-design,
makeup, and music (goes into great detail about the instruments and music of
the period). Originally written in Sanskrit, it is obvious that it was made solely
for an elite, educated audience of Brahmins who also played a large role in
religion in Ancient Indian Society. The text has 6000 different slokas (chants)
which specify on everything from eye movements to neck movements, and even
audience appreciation. These include:
1.
The Mythic Creation of Theatre
2.
Theatre Buildings
3.
Religious Rituals
4.
Dance
5.
Pre-Show Activity
6.
Rasa
7.
Bhavas
8.
Acting: Head and Face
9.
Acting: Hands and Limbs, pt. 1
10.
Acting: Hands and Limbs, pt. 2
11.
Stage Movement: Steps
12.
Stage Movement: Combinations of Steps
13.
Stage Movement: Gaits
14.
Areas of the Stage and
Styles of Plays
15.
Voice
16.
Meter
17.
Poetic Figures
18.
Languages, pt. 1
19.
Languages, pt. 2
20.
Types of Plays
21.
Plot
22.
Mood
23.
Costume
24.
Acting: Imitation and Representation
25.
Acting:
Characterization
26.
Gesture
27.
Success of a Production
28.
Music
29.
Stringed Instruments
30.
Hollow Instruments
31.
Tala (Drumming
Rhythms)
32.
Songs
33.
Drums
34.
Character Categories
35.
Roles
36.
The Theatre Myth
As my presentation is on Classical Dance and not Ancient Indina
Theater as a whole, I will be focusing mostly on chapters 4 – 13.
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