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NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques
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Page 1 11 DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES Nritta, Nritya and Natya Dance comprises many units which are beautifully connected together. Some have joyous movements, some narrate a story or a situation and some tell the full story. Below are the de??nitions of nritta, nritya and natya given from the treatise, Abhinaya Darpana, a text widely followed by classical dancers. ?????? — ???????? ???? ???? ?? ? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ? ? ??? n?ttah bhavabhinayahinam tu n?ttamityabhidhiyate Nritta consists of dance with only movements without any speci??c emotive content or narrative. ??? ?? ? — ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ? ??? n?tyam rasabhavavyañjanadiyukta? n?tyamitiryate Nritya combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava. ?? ??? ? — ?? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ? ???? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ? na?ya? : na?ya? tanna?aka? caiva pujya? purvakathayutam Natya is a dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story. You will explore the vocabulary of nritta and nritya in this chapter. The most important unit of a dance form are the basic steps that need to be learnt. These steps form the dance vocabulary. The various steps are then strung together to make a dance. Nritta 11_Dance.indd 119 11_Dance.indd 119 17-04-2025 15:18:10 17-04-2025 15:18:10 Reprint 2026-27 Page 2 11 DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES Nritta, Nritya and Natya Dance comprises many units which are beautifully connected together. Some have joyous movements, some narrate a story or a situation and some tell the full story. Below are the de??nitions of nritta, nritya and natya given from the treatise, Abhinaya Darpana, a text widely followed by classical dancers. ?????? — ???????? ???? ???? ?? ? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ? ? ??? n?ttah bhavabhinayahinam tu n?ttamityabhidhiyate Nritta consists of dance with only movements without any speci??c emotive content or narrative. ??? ?? ? — ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ? ??? n?tyam rasabhavavyañjanadiyukta? n?tyamitiryate Nritya combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava. ?? ??? ? — ?? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ? ???? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ? na?ya? : na?ya? tanna?aka? caiva pujya? purvakathayutam Natya is a dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story. You will explore the vocabulary of nritta and nritya in this chapter. The most important unit of a dance form are the basic steps that need to be learnt. These steps form the dance vocabulary. The various steps are then strung together to make a dance. Nritta 11_Dance.indd 119 11_Dance.indd 119 17-04-2025 15:18:10 17-04-2025 15:18:10 Reprint 2026-27 120 | KRITI ACTIVITY 11.1 : BASIC STEPS AND RHYTHMS — NRITTA You have been learning steps and rhythm in your earlier grades, now try some different rhythmic beats, i.e., 5, 6 and 7 beats. Add some permutations and combinations to this. Look at the images drawn below. They are combinations of steps exploring different beats. Do you wish to try your own combinations with various rhythms. Different ways the feet can be used are shown below — You will use these foot positions and movements to build your dance. Note to the Teacher: Suggestive step combinations are given on Page 118. Actual practice can be based on appropriateness, and convenience based on the region and level of learning. Beginners may try rhythms with simple steps as decided by the teacher. It can be aligned with maths for understanding counting and beats better. Bols (rhythmic syllables) and counts for the beats can either be decided by the teacher or students. Jump with one leg raised Cross at the back Jump with both legs Feet together Heel — front, side Cross in front Toe — front and back 11_Dance.indd 120 11_Dance.indd 120 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 Page 3 11 DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES Nritta, Nritya and Natya Dance comprises many units which are beautifully connected together. Some have joyous movements, some narrate a story or a situation and some tell the full story. Below are the de??nitions of nritta, nritya and natya given from the treatise, Abhinaya Darpana, a text widely followed by classical dancers. ?????? — ???????? ???? ???? ?? ? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ? ? ??? n?ttah bhavabhinayahinam tu n?ttamityabhidhiyate Nritta consists of dance with only movements without any speci??c emotive content or narrative. ??? ?? ? — ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ? ??? n?tyam rasabhavavyañjanadiyukta? n?tyamitiryate Nritya combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava. ?? ??? ? — ?? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ? ???? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ? na?ya? : na?ya? tanna?aka? caiva pujya? purvakathayutam Natya is a dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story. You will explore the vocabulary of nritta and nritya in this chapter. The most important unit of a dance form are the basic steps that need to be learnt. These steps form the dance vocabulary. The various steps are then strung together to make a dance. Nritta 11_Dance.indd 119 11_Dance.indd 119 17-04-2025 15:18:10 17-04-2025 15:18:10 Reprint 2026-27 120 | KRITI ACTIVITY 11.1 : BASIC STEPS AND RHYTHMS — NRITTA You have been learning steps and rhythm in your earlier grades, now try some different rhythmic beats, i.e., 5, 6 and 7 beats. Add some permutations and combinations to this. Look at the images drawn below. They are combinations of steps exploring different beats. Do you wish to try your own combinations with various rhythms. Different ways the feet can be used are shown below — You will use these foot positions and movements to build your dance. Note to the Teacher: Suggestive step combinations are given on Page 118. Actual practice can be based on appropriateness, and convenience based on the region and level of learning. Beginners may try rhythms with simple steps as decided by the teacher. It can be aligned with maths for understanding counting and beats better. Bols (rhythmic syllables) and counts for the beats can either be decided by the teacher or students. Jump with one leg raised Cross at the back Jump with both legs Feet together Heel — front, side Cross in front Toe — front and back 11_Dance.indd 120 11_Dance.indd 120 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 121 | DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES 5 beats are a combination of 2 and 3 beats Examples for 5 beats or step counts. 1 2 3 4 5 Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg. right left right left right stamp stamp heel stamp stamp Now, repeat with left leg. left right left right left stamp stamp heel stamp stamp Step Combination 2 Start with the right leg. right right left right left jump step cross step stamp Now, repeat with left leg. left left right left right jump step cross step stamp Like the above combination of 5 beat steps, combine more steps with heel in front, heel to the side and other variations. 11_Dance.indd 121 11_Dance.indd 121 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 Page 4 11 DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES Nritta, Nritya and Natya Dance comprises many units which are beautifully connected together. Some have joyous movements, some narrate a story or a situation and some tell the full story. Below are the de??nitions of nritta, nritya and natya given from the treatise, Abhinaya Darpana, a text widely followed by classical dancers. ?????? — ???????? ???? ???? ?? ? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ? ? ??? n?ttah bhavabhinayahinam tu n?ttamityabhidhiyate Nritta consists of dance with only movements without any speci??c emotive content or narrative. ??? ?? ? — ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ? ??? n?tyam rasabhavavyañjanadiyukta? n?tyamitiryate Nritya combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava. ?? ??? ? — ?? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ? ???? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ? na?ya? : na?ya? tanna?aka? caiva pujya? purvakathayutam Natya is a dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story. You will explore the vocabulary of nritta and nritya in this chapter. The most important unit of a dance form are the basic steps that need to be learnt. These steps form the dance vocabulary. The various steps are then strung together to make a dance. Nritta 11_Dance.indd 119 11_Dance.indd 119 17-04-2025 15:18:10 17-04-2025 15:18:10 Reprint 2026-27 120 | KRITI ACTIVITY 11.1 : BASIC STEPS AND RHYTHMS — NRITTA You have been learning steps and rhythm in your earlier grades, now try some different rhythmic beats, i.e., 5, 6 and 7 beats. Add some permutations and combinations to this. Look at the images drawn below. They are combinations of steps exploring different beats. Do you wish to try your own combinations with various rhythms. Different ways the feet can be used are shown below — You will use these foot positions and movements to build your dance. Note to the Teacher: Suggestive step combinations are given on Page 118. Actual practice can be based on appropriateness, and convenience based on the region and level of learning. Beginners may try rhythms with simple steps as decided by the teacher. It can be aligned with maths for understanding counting and beats better. Bols (rhythmic syllables) and counts for the beats can either be decided by the teacher or students. Jump with one leg raised Cross at the back Jump with both legs Feet together Heel — front, side Cross in front Toe — front and back 11_Dance.indd 120 11_Dance.indd 120 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 121 | DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES 5 beats are a combination of 2 and 3 beats Examples for 5 beats or step counts. 1 2 3 4 5 Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg. right left right left right stamp stamp heel stamp stamp Now, repeat with left leg. left right left right left stamp stamp heel stamp stamp Step Combination 2 Start with the right leg. right right left right left jump step cross step stamp Now, repeat with left leg. left left right left right jump step cross step stamp Like the above combination of 5 beat steps, combine more steps with heel in front, heel to the side and other variations. 11_Dance.indd 121 11_Dance.indd 121 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 122 | KRITI 6 beats are a combination of two 3 beats (3+3) Examples of 6 beats or step counts. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg. right left right left right left toe cross stamp heel front stamp stamp stamp Repeat with left leg. left right left right left right toe cross stamp heel front stamp stamp stamp Step Combination 2 Start with the right leg. right Left right right left right heel stamp stamp toe cross stamp stamp Repeat with left leg. Left right left left right right heel stamp stamp toe cross stamp stamp Follow the above example and try different combinations of leg movements. 11_Dance.indd 122 11_Dance.indd 122 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 Page 5 11 DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES Nritta, Nritya and Natya Dance comprises many units which are beautifully connected together. Some have joyous movements, some narrate a story or a situation and some tell the full story. Below are the de??nitions of nritta, nritya and natya given from the treatise, Abhinaya Darpana, a text widely followed by classical dancers. ?????? — ???????? ???? ???? ?? ? ??? ??? ???? ?????? ?? ???? ?? ? ? ??? n?ttah bhavabhinayahinam tu n?ttamityabhidhiyate Nritta consists of dance with only movements without any speci??c emotive content or narrative. ??? ?? ? — ????? ?? ???? ?? ????? ? ??? ? ????? ?? ?? ?? ?? ??? ? ? ??? n?tyam rasabhavavyañjanadiyukta? n?tyamitiryate Nritya combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava. ?? ??? ? — ?? ??? ? ?? ?? ??? ? ???? ???? ? ????? ????? ???? ? ? na?ya? : na?ya? tanna?aka? caiva pujya? purvakathayutam Natya is a dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story. You will explore the vocabulary of nritta and nritya in this chapter. The most important unit of a dance form are the basic steps that need to be learnt. These steps form the dance vocabulary. The various steps are then strung together to make a dance. Nritta 11_Dance.indd 119 11_Dance.indd 119 17-04-2025 15:18:10 17-04-2025 15:18:10 Reprint 2026-27 120 | KRITI ACTIVITY 11.1 : BASIC STEPS AND RHYTHMS — NRITTA You have been learning steps and rhythm in your earlier grades, now try some different rhythmic beats, i.e., 5, 6 and 7 beats. Add some permutations and combinations to this. Look at the images drawn below. They are combinations of steps exploring different beats. Do you wish to try your own combinations with various rhythms. Different ways the feet can be used are shown below — You will use these foot positions and movements to build your dance. Note to the Teacher: Suggestive step combinations are given on Page 118. Actual practice can be based on appropriateness, and convenience based on the region and level of learning. Beginners may try rhythms with simple steps as decided by the teacher. It can be aligned with maths for understanding counting and beats better. Bols (rhythmic syllables) and counts for the beats can either be decided by the teacher or students. Jump with one leg raised Cross at the back Jump with both legs Feet together Heel — front, side Cross in front Toe — front and back 11_Dance.indd 120 11_Dance.indd 120 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 121 | DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES 5 beats are a combination of 2 and 3 beats Examples for 5 beats or step counts. 1 2 3 4 5 Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg. right left right left right stamp stamp heel stamp stamp Now, repeat with left leg. left right left right left stamp stamp heel stamp stamp Step Combination 2 Start with the right leg. right right left right left jump step cross step stamp Now, repeat with left leg. left left right left right jump step cross step stamp Like the above combination of 5 beat steps, combine more steps with heel in front, heel to the side and other variations. 11_Dance.indd 121 11_Dance.indd 121 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 122 | KRITI 6 beats are a combination of two 3 beats (3+3) Examples of 6 beats or step counts. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg. right left right left right left toe cross stamp heel front stamp stamp stamp Repeat with left leg. left right left right left right toe cross stamp heel front stamp stamp stamp Step Combination 2 Start with the right leg. right Left right right left right heel stamp stamp toe cross stamp stamp Repeat with left leg. Left right left left right right heel stamp stamp toe cross stamp stamp Follow the above example and try different combinations of leg movements. 11_Dance.indd 122 11_Dance.indd 122 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27 123 | DANCE VOCABULARY AND TECHNIQUES 7 beats are a combination of 3 and 4 beats or 3+2+2 or 4+3 Examples for 7 beats or step counts. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Step Combination 1 Start with the right leg. right left right left left right right stamp toe stamp heel stamp heel stamp Repeat with left leg. left right left right right left left stamp toe stamp heel stamp heel stamp Step combination 2 Start with the right leg. right left right left right left right heel stamp stamp cross stamp stamp stamp Repeat with left leg. left right left right left right left heel stamp stamp cross stamp stamp stamp Practise the above rhythms in different patterns. You can use music bandishes given in music class and add arm movements of your choice. 11_Dance.indd 123 11_Dance.indd 123 17-04-2025 15:18:11 17-04-2025 15:18:11 Reprint 2026-27Read More
FAQs on NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques
| 1. What are the basic elements of dance vocabulary introduced in Class 7? |  |
Ans. The basic elements of dance vocabulary include body movements, space, time, energy, and relationships. These elements help in understanding how dancers express themselves through their bodies and create various formations, patterns, and rhythms in their performances.
| 2. How do different techniques in dance impact a dancer's performance? | |
Ans. Different techniques in dance affect a dancer's performance by enhancing their ability to express emotions, tell stories, and connect with the audience. Techniques such as balance, coordination, and flexibility are essential for executing movements accurately and with grace, which can significantly elevate the overall quality of a performance.
| 3. Can you explain the importance of rhythm in dance? | |
Ans. Rhythm is crucial in dance as it provides the timing and flow for movements. It allows dancers to synchronize their actions with music and with each other, creating a cohesive performance. Understanding rhythm helps dancers to interpret music, maintain consistency in their movements, and engage the audience more effectively.
| 4. What role does space play in dance choreography? | |
Ans. Space in dance choreography refers to the area in which dancers move and the paths they create. It is important for defining formations, patterns, and levels in a performance. Effective use of space can enhance visual interest and dynamics, allowing choreographers to convey themes and emotions more powerfully.
| 5. How can understanding dance vocabulary benefit students in their learning process? | |
Ans. Understanding dance vocabulary benefits students by providing them with the language needed to describe movements and techniques accurately. It fosters better communication between dancers and instructors, enhances learning through clear terminology, and allows students to analyze and critique performances more effectively, deepening their appreciation for the art of dance.
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Document Description: NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques for Class 7 2026 is part of Arts (kriti) Class 7 - New NCERT preparation. The notes and questions for NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques have been prepared according to the Class 7 exam syllabus. Information about NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques covers topics like and NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques Example, for Class 7 2026 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises and tests below for NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques.
Introduction of NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques in English is available as part of our Arts (kriti) Class 7 - New NCERT for Class 7 & NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques in Hindi for Arts (kriti) Class 7 - New NCERT course. Download more important topics related with notes, lectures and mock test series for Class 7 Exam by signing up for free. Class 7: NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary and Techniques
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NCERT Textbook: Dance Vocabulary & Techniques of Arts is the updated edition as per the latest syllabus of the 2026-27, PDF available for download.
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