You must be wondering what are those four lines which can make you learn dancing..and how any one can promise to learn dance with those four lines...
I must say that those FOUR LINES are essence of all the dancing in the world... be it Eastern Classical or Western Classical Dancing..
This also reminds us the importance of Fundamentals of Dancing..which is important
Whatever level you are in Dancing, as an artist you should always be aware of those foundation elements.
Is Dancing movement of body parts - legs, hands, eyes etc or is it more?
YES, Definitely it is more and those FOUR LINES describe it very beautifully..
Have you ever seen a performance where you as an audience fully involved.. and experienced the same emotions as dancer is performing..emotions of Joy, sadness etc or you ever felt like jumping from your seat and start dancing yourself..
I believe everyone would have experienced it..
What actually made you experience such an emotions... How can a dance influence you so much..
This is nothing but those FOUR LINES which will explain you..
Dancer without even saying a single word can make you cry, laugh, express all sorts of emotions..
So what are those FOUR LINES?....
Those lines are from the ancient Indian Literature written in Sanskrit. Although it is written primarily for Bharatnatyam Dancing (which is Indian Classical Dancing) but in my opinion is the essence of every dance form.
In India, those Four lines is called as "Shloka"
Here is the Sanskrit form of Shloka -
"Yatho Hasta tatho Drushti
Yatho Drushti tatho Manaha
Yatho Manaha tatho Bhavah
Yatho Bhavom tatho Rasaha"
Let me summarize you the meaning as it is mentioned in the Shloka and then I will look into subtle meaning behind it.
Yatho = Where
Hasta = Hands
Thatho = There
Drushti = Eyes/Vision
Manah = Mind..(Although I do not think there is any word for Manah in English but can think of Mind.. I will explain that as well..)
Bhavah = Expressions
Rasah = Emotions (I will also explain that as well)
It states
Where the hands go, there the eyes should follow it
Where the eyes are, there the mind should follow it
Where the mind is, there the expression should be brought out
Where the expression is, there the flavor (emotions) will be experienced
Lets understand further with an example and try it yourself --
Imagine this -- "You saw a Beautiful Bird flying in the sky by looking up, and you point your hands towards it with amazements".. saying - "wow what a beautiful bird"
Now, how you can do that as a dancer.
As you move your hands (remember hasta) pointing towards that beautiful bird, you eyes (remember Drushti) are actually following your hands..Try to move your hands slowly and allow your eyes to look at your hands (say fingers) all the time...So when hand is actually pointing towards bird, your eyes will automatically be guided towards that..
(There are parts of mind, expression and emotions as well)
Now, you saw the bird and that triggers some state in your mind (remember manah) and you expressed (remember bhavah) your amazement (type of emotions)
Those who understand Sanskrit may know that words like Manah are meant to understand in its original context which unfortunately difficult to understand by merely using or replacing it with English word like stating as Mind. When I say "Manah" to someone who understand sanskrit it triggers certain state of mind in that person which can not be triggered by saing "Mind".
Mind triggers (at least in me) a more intellectual, object based thoughts.. while Manah is a some sort of state of mind which is object less..
I must say that those FOUR LINES are essence of all the dancing in the world... be it Eastern Classical or Western Classical Dancing..
This also reminds us the importance of Fundamentals of Dancing..which is important
Whatever level you are in Dancing, as an artist you should always be aware of those foundation elements.
Is Dancing movement of body parts - legs, hands, eyes etc or is it more?
YES, Definitely it is more and those FOUR LINES describe it very beautifully..
Have you ever seen a performance where you as an audience fully involved.. and experienced the same emotions as dancer is performing..emotions of Joy, sadness etc or you ever felt like jumping from your seat and start dancing yourself..
I believe everyone would have experienced it..
What actually made you experience such an emotions... How can a dance influence you so much..
This is nothing but those FOUR LINES which will explain you..
Dancer without even saying a single word can make you cry, laugh, express all sorts of emotions..
So what are those FOUR LINES?....
Those lines are from the ancient Indian Literature written in Sanskrit. Although it is written primarily for Bharatnatyam Dancing (which is Indian Classical Dancing) but in my opinion is the essence of every dance form.
In India, those Four lines is called as "Shloka"
Here is the Sanskrit form of Shloka -
"Yatho Hasta tatho Drushti
Yatho Drushti tatho Manaha
Yatho Manaha tatho Bhavah
Yatho Bhavom tatho Rasaha"
Let me summarize you the meaning as it is mentioned in the Shloka and then I will look into subtle meaning behind it.
Yatho = Where
Hasta = Hands
Thatho = There
Drushti = Eyes/Vision
Manah = Mind..(Although I do not think there is any word for Manah in English but can think of Mind.. I will explain that as well..)
Bhavah = Expressions
Rasah = Emotions (I will also explain that as well)
It states
Where the hands go, there the eyes should follow it
Where the eyes are, there the mind should follow it
Where the mind is, there the expression should be brought out
Where the expression is, there the flavor (emotions) will be experienced
Lets understand further with an example and try it yourself --
Imagine this -- "You saw a Beautiful Bird flying in the sky by looking up, and you point your hands towards it with amazements".. saying - "wow what a beautiful bird"
Now, how you can do that as a dancer.
As you move your hands (remember hasta) pointing towards that beautiful bird, you eyes (remember Drushti) are actually following your hands..Try to move your hands slowly and allow your eyes to look at your hands (say fingers) all the time...So when hand is actually pointing towards bird, your eyes will automatically be guided towards that..
(There are parts of mind, expression and emotions as well)
Now, you saw the bird and that triggers some state in your mind (remember manah) and you expressed (remember bhavah) your amazement (type of emotions)
Those who understand Sanskrit may know that words like Manah are meant to understand in its original context which unfortunately difficult to understand by merely using or replacing it with English word like stating as Mind. When I say "Manah" to someone who understand sanskrit it triggers certain state of mind in that person which can not be triggered by saing "Mind".
Mind triggers (at least in me) a more intellectual, object based thoughts.. while Manah is a some sort of state of mind which is object less..