CBSE Class 11 Kathakali Dance (code 061)
Chapters: 2
1. Kathakali Theory
History and repertoire
- Indian Classical Dance – Indian classical dance grew from ideas written in the Natya Shastra (by Bharata, about 2,000 years old) and the Abhinaya Darpana (by Nandikeshvara). Every form mixes three parts: nritta (pure rhythm), nritya (dance with feeling) and natya (drama). Eight forms are widely recognised: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya. Dancers express through four kinds of abhinaya (angika, vachika, aharya, sattvika) so that the audience feels one of nine rasas.
2. Kathakali Practical
Training
- Classical Dance Technique – Good classical technique rests on five things: a stable base posture (samapada, aramandi/mandala, chauk), clear body lines (such as tribhanga), clean footwork kept in time at single, double and quadruple speed, a firm sense of tala (the beat cycle, with sam and khali), and precise hand gestures (hastas). Warm-up, eye and neck exercises, turns (chakkar, bhramari) and safe practice tie it all together.