natya sastra workshop

NATYA SASTRA WORKSHOP
By
na tat śāstraṁ na tat śilpaṁ na sā vidyā na sā kalā
na sa yōgaḥ na tat karma nāṭyēsmin yanna dṛśyatē
There is no scripture, no sculpture, no branch of knowledge, no art, no yoga and no
act that has not been reflected in dance.
Objective
NATYA SASTRA OF BHARATA MUNI
I
n world literature Natya Sastra of Bharata is the earliest available treatise on
dramaturgy. Dated between 2 C BC – 2 C AD, it is a comprehensive
compendium of all aspects essential for dramatists and dancers. This scientific
work of 36 Chapters in 6000 verses deals with a gamut of subjects ranging
from the minutest of details such as the types of nose pins and earrings of
men and women to the physical and psychological states (of how a young
man is to enact the role of an old one and vice versa through abhinaya) of
the artiste.
The greatness of the book is such that many individual chapters from Natya
Sastra have become independent books at later times - Dasa Rupaka of
Dhananjaya and Abhinaya Darpana of Nandikeswara stand as examples. More
than a hundred works dealing with the Rasa Theory are also based on Bharata’s
Natya Sastra. Every treatise on dance, drama, Rasa, Vachikabhinaya and even
music written after Bharata borrowed heavily from this magnum opus.
Natya Sastra is not just a book for the dramatists and dancers. It also reflects the
scientific approach in understanding our rich and varied heritage. It deals with
various topics such as the stage construction, types of stages, the placement
of orchestra on the stage, division of the stage for performance, the seating
arrangements in the auditorium according to hierarchy, the preliminaries
performed before the actual performance, the composition of lyrics, the use
of language, prosody and poetics, classification of musical instruments, voice
defects, qualities of Gurus and Sishyas, descent of drama and dance to this
world, the benefits of studying Natya Sastra and many more…
While dealing with Angikabhinaya, Bharata classifies limbs as major, minor
and subsidiary. He gives such minute details of abhinaya as glances of 36
kinds, movements of taaraa or eye balls - 9, eye balls and their relation to
glances - 8, eyelids - 9, eyebrows - 7, nose - 6, cheeks- 6, lip - 6, chin - 7,
face or aasya - 6, facial colors of 4 kinds, neck gestures of 9 and so on.
Natya Sastra has been the basis for all classical and many semi and nonclassical forms of dances not just in India but also of the entire South East
Asian Countries like Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand etc.,
A study and understanding of Natya Sastra enhances the confidence and quality
of dancers’ performance, choreographic talent of the choreographers, pedagogy
and teaching quality of teachers, coordination and harmony of musicians and
scholarship of the dance/drama of scholars. Even laymen interested in our rich
tradition can enjoy the beauty of the nuances of the Natya Sastra.
ƒ
Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao, D.Litt (Indology) Phone: 24953870
Secretary, The Music Academy, Madras
Member Sagit Natak Akademi, New Delhi
Member Academic Council, Kalakshetra
Contributing Editor, Sruti
Radhakrishnan Chair Professor, University of Hyderabad
Coordinator, Nadaneerajanam, SVBC TTD
NATYA SASTRA WORKSHOP
by
The full-fledged Natya Sastra workshop is for a
total duration of 24 hours divided as 4 hours per day
for 6 days
The 6 Day Workshop classes are generally from
09:00 am to 13:00 pm with a tea break
Topics covered will include:
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Introduction to Natya Sastra
Overview of 36 chapters
Rasa Theory
Angika Abhinaya
Vachikabhinaya
Aharya Abhinaya
Samanya Abhinaya
Chitrabhinaya
Nayika Classification
Music
Dasa Rupaka
Dharmi
Vritti
Pravritti and
Siddhi
All classes are taught in English and presented as
power point presentations using a laptop. Organisers
should provide LCD Projector, screen, mikes and
other seating facilities.
All Participants will be given the following:
1. Sanskrit text of the Natya Sastra in PDF
2. 4 Volumes of Natya Sastra of MM Ghosh
with English transliteration, translation and
Abhinavagupta’s commentary as PDF.
3. English Translation of Abhinaya Darpana
with Sanskrit text as PDF
Participants should bring their note books and pens,
a flash drive of 4 GB to class.
Participants may be given a Certificate jointly by
my trust (PAPPUS ACADEMIC & CULTURAL
TRUST) and the organising institution.
Abridged versions of 1-6 day Natya Sastra
workshops are also available.
For further details contact :
pappuvenu@gmail.com • 09380692103
Dr.Pappu Venugopala Rao, (born 1948) a well- known scholar, poet,
musicologist, Sanskritist, dance expert, writer and orator has more than
20 books on various subjects to his credit.
The most recent of his books that have received acclaim are ‘Flowers
at His Feet’, ‘Science of Śrῑcakra’, ‘Rasamanjari’ ‘Bunch of Javalis’
and Nritta Ratnavali; he has presented and published over 100 research
papers.
He was recently awarded D. Litt for his book’ Science of Śrῑcakra’
After 32 years of service as academic administrator with the American
Institute of Indian Studies, Dr.Rao now holds many important portfolios
in prominent institutions,
• Visiting Professor Radhakrishnan Chair, University of Hyderabad
• Visiting Professor, Tumkur University, Karnataka
• Member, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi,
• Member of Experts’ Committee and Secretary, The Music Academy,
Madras,
• Editor, Journal of the Music Academy,
• Editor of Sangita Sampradaya Pradarshini English translation critical
edition, The Music Academy supported by eminent members of
Editorial Board.
• Member of the Academic Council, Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
etc,
He is the coordinator of the Sri Venkateswara Bhakti Channel of Tirumala
Tirupathi Devsathanams.
His lectures on music, dance and literature and workshops on Natya
Sastra given all over the world, particularly at the Harvard University,
have received high critical acclaim and an equal amount of appreciation
from artistes and rasikas. • He is an adjudicator of Doctoral dissertations in dance, music,
Theatre Arts and literature for a number of Universities across the
globe.
Some Recent Awards:
• Artiste of the Year 2012 from Bangalore Gayana Samaja
• Nritya Kala Saagara from Cleveland Thygaraja aradhana 2012
• Musicologist Award, Music Forum, Mumbai