Navarasa

Navarasa
By the SMU Indian Cultural Society

Thursday 10 March 2011, 8pm
The Substation Theatre
Admission: $10 please contact Ritin Malhotra 96716455
This is an OpenHouse event

This series of performances mixes both contemporary and classical Indian dance and music. A rasa (Sanskrit for ‘juice’ or ‘essence’) denotes an essential mental state and is the dominant emotional theme of a work of art, or the primary feeling that is evoked in the person that views, reads or hears such a work.

The concept of rasa is fundamental to many forms of Indian Arts including dance, music, musical theatre, cinema and literature. However, the treatment, interpretation, usage and actual performance of a particular rasa differs greatly between different styles. The theme of this performance is to depict ‘Navarasa’ which forms a critical component of the Natya Shastra.

There are nine emotions associated with the Indian Arts, namely Anger, Fear, Disgust, Surprise, Love, Valor, Compassion, Happiness and Tranquility. Each of these emotions will be depicted in the dance and music performances through facial expressions, music and lyrics.