According to ancient treatises dance has three aspects of natya nritya and nritta In this context co...........

Culture of India Dance and Music

According to ancient treatises, dance has three aspects of natya, nritya and nritta. In this context consider the following statements:

1. Natya represents dramatic representation or drama with speech, music and dancing.

2. Nritya is pure dance where body movements do not express any mood.

3. Nritta corresponds to the mime performed to the song.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1 only

2 and 3 only

1 and 3 only

1, 2 and 3

According to the Abhinaya Darpanam, the Sangitaratnakara and other medieval treatises, dance is divided into three distinct aspects, that is, natya, nritya and nritta.
Natya corresponds to drama. it is the combined manifestation of bhava, rasa and abhinaya. Natya highlights the dramatic element and most dance forms do not give emphasis to this aspect today with the exception of dance-drama forms like Kathakali. Hence statement 1 is correct.
Nritya consists of footwork and abhinaya. It relates to Rasa and psychological state. Angika abhinaya relating to Hasta, eyes, eye brows, lips etc. are very important in Nritya. It can be termed as the explanatory aspect of dance where hand gestures and facial expressionsconvey the meaning of the lyrics of the performing song. Bhav of the dancer is of prime importance in this so it can also be considered as the miming aspect of dance. Hence statement 2 is not correct.
Nritta corresponds to pure dance steps performed rhythmically. Here the movements of the body do not convey any mood or meaning and its purpose is just creating beauty by making various patterns, lines in space and time. Hence statement 3 is not correct.