The Natyasastra and the Body in Performance: Essays on Indian Theories of Dance and Drama (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780786471782)

The Natyasastra is the deep repository of Indian performance studies. It embodies centuries of performance knowledge developed in South Asia on a range of conceptual issues and practical methodologies of the body. The composition of the Natyasastra is attributed to Sage Bharatha, and dates back to between 200 BC and AD 200. Written in Sanskrit, the text contains 6000 verse stanzas integrated in 36 chapters discussing a wide range of issues in theatre arts, including dramatic composition; construction of the playhouse; detailed analysis of the musical scales; body movements; various types of acting; directing; division of stage space; costumes; make-up; properties and musical instruments. As a discourse on performance, the Natyasastra is an extensive documentation of terminologies, concepts and methodologies. This book presents 14 scholarly essays exploring the Natyasastra from the multiple perspectives of Indian performance studies--epistemological, aesthetic, scientific, religious, ethnological and practical.

Author: Sreenath Nair
ISBN-10: 0786471786
ISBN-13: 9780786471782
Publisher: McFarland & Company
Language: English
Published: 01/26/2015
Pages: 260
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.79lbs
Size: 8.90h x 5.90w x 0.80d

Review Citation(s):
Choice 10/01/2015