kathak

Ghungroos

Small metal bells worn at the ankles by Indian dancers in styles like Bharatnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi, and Odissi to maintain rhythm and tempo during performances.

Kavit

In rhythm music, linking poetry words with dance, tabla, pakwaz, and primalu bol, often in faster tempo, famous in Jaipur gharana.

Anga

Main body parts in dance - Head, Hands, Chest, Waist, Bottom, Legs.

Samam

Eye movement term for looking straight.

Sundari

Neck movement on both sides in dance.

Pandit Narayan Prasad

Renowned for rhythm and emoting, honored with 'Nrityacharya' in 1957, from Jaipur Gharana.

Kathak

Classical dance form from North India, originally a storytelling medium, combining Nritta and Nritya elements.

Lucknow Gharana

Kathak Gharana known for grace, elegance, and delicate movements, flourished in Nawab Wajid Ali Shah's court.

Tandav

Dance form originated by Lord Shiva, involving aggressive limb movements and expressions of Courage, Anger, Hatred, Enjoyment, and Anger born out of grief and sympathy.

Lasya

Soft, shringarik dance form performed by Goddess Uma, characterized by gentle movements and expressions of pleasure and excitement.

Asamyuta hastas

single hand gestures

Samyuta Hasta

double hand gestures

(Asamyuta) Sarpashisha

A Snakes Hood, Sandal Paste, Middle tone.

(Asamyuta) Mrigashirsha

A deer’s head, Lord Krisha, Womens cheek

(Asamyuta) Simhamukha

Havan, A rabbit, Elephant

(Asamyuta) Kangula

bell, bells worn by children, coconut

(Asamyuta) Alapadma

A fully bloomed lotus, show fruits such as apple, bosom

(Asamyuta) Chatura

Gold, Copper, Iron

(Asamyuta) Bhramara

Bee, Parrot, Wing

(Asamyuta) Hamsasye

Typing thread, Pearl, Jasmine flower

(Asamyuta) Hansapakshika

Swans wing, #6, construction of a bridge

(Asamyuta) Sandamsha

Belly, wound, worms

(Asamyuta) Mayura

Peacock, bird, vommiting

(Asamyuta) Ardhachandra

spear, waist, dinning plate

(Asamyuta) Mushthi

grasping objects, combative position of the wrestlers, steady fastness of a person

(Asamyuta) Kapitta

Goddess lakshmi and & saraswati, Milking cows, holding cymbals

(Asamyuta) Chandrakala

moon, face, ganga river

(Asamyuta) Mukula

lily flower, eating,navel

(Asamyuta) tamrachuda

rooster, a birds head, crow

(Asamyuta) trishula

a holy trinity (brahma, vishnu, mahesh), an idea of 3, bilva leaves (holy leaf used to worship lord shiva)

(Asamyuta) Vyagraha

tiger, frog, ape

(Samyuta) Anjali

greeting people, offer salutation to the god, elders, teachers or a brahamin

(Samyuta) Kapota

respectful salutations, such a mudhra is held while conversing with teachers or guru, mark of acceptance or obedience

(Samyuta) Karakata

arrival of people, showing belly, blowing the counch

(Samyuta) swastika

crocodile, say no, blocked road or passage

(Samyuta) dola

at the commencement of natya, it is a pose prescribed by the experts

(Samyuta) pushpaputa

perform aarti, acceptance of water or fruits, show offerings to god

(Samyuta) ustangha

an embrace, show modesty, coaching children

(Samyuta) shivalinga

linga(sign) of lord shiva, represents hindu god lord shiva, phallus-shaped and fixed on a base, shaped like a yoni.

(Samyuta) katakawardhan

coronation ceremony, worship, marriage

(Samyuta) kartari-swastik

stems and branches of the trees, a huge tree, a hill top or its peak

(Samyuta) shakata

enact a demon, vicious teeth of demon- when held close to the face, denotes the protrduing eyes- eye level.

(Samyuta) shankha

denote a counch, begin war, sound of shankha is sacred - blown in some indian rituals

sum

first beat of any tal. sign “x”. always return on sum.

taali

also called bhari, means to clap

khali

called phank, empty, rest point of tal, sign “0”

laya

rhytm or tempo, continuous movement in a space of time

laya vilambit

slow tempo

laya madhyam

medium tempo

laya drut

fast tempo

ekgun

single speed

dugun

second speed, two beats into one beat

chaugun

fourth speed, four beats into one

salami

salutation, the dancer honors the audience by saulting it in a special manner.preformed in beginning of performance

tatkar

dance syllables produced from stomping, word tatkar 700 years old.

taal

group of certain beats and measurment of time that calculates number of beats

avartan

cycle of any taal, avartan/avarti. example teental has 16 beats.