Fine Arts · Class 6 · Body Language: The Art of Dance · Term 1

Navarasas: Expressing Emotions in Dance

Introduction to the nine fundamental emotions (Navarasas) and how dancers express them through facial expressions and body language.

• CBSE Learning Outcomes
• CBSE: Basics of Indian Classical Dance: Abhinaya - Class 6

About This Topic

Navarasas refer to the nine fundamental emotions in Indian classical dance: Shringara for love, Hasya for humour, Karuna for compassion, Raudra for anger, Veera for heroism, Bhayanaka for fear, Bibhatsa for disgust, Adbhuta for wonder, and Shanta for peace. Class 6 students explore how dancers use abhinaya, or facial expressions, along with hastas, mudras, and body postures to convey these rasas vividly. This builds on the unit Body Language: The Art of Dance, helping students connect emotions to precise physical movements.

In the CBSE Fine Arts curriculum, this topic fosters emotional awareness and non-verbal communication skills essential for expressive arts. Students compare postures for contrasting rasas, such as the expansive gestures of Veera against the withdrawn stance of Karuna, and create short sequences to embody one rasa. These activities sharpen observation and empathy, linking dance to theatre and visual arts.

Active learning suits Navarasas perfectly, as students internalise emotions through kinesthetic practice. Mirror exercises, group improvisations, and peer feedback turn abstract concepts into personal experiences, making expressions authentic and memorable while boosting confidence in performance.

Key Questions

1. How does a dancer use specific facial expressions to convey a particular emotion?
2. Compare and contrast the physical postures associated with joy versus sorrow in dance.
3. Construct a short movement sequence that clearly expresses one of the Navarasas.

Learning Objectives

• Identify and name the nine Navarasas and their associated emotions.
• Demonstrate specific facial expressions and body postures for at least three different Navarasas.
• Compare and contrast the physical manifestations of two contrasting Navarasas, such as Raudra (anger) and Karuna (compassion).
• Construct a short, non-verbal movement sequence to express one chosen Navarasa.

Before You Start

Introduction to Body Language

Why: Students need a basic understanding of how the body communicates non-verbally before exploring nuanced emotional expression in dance.

Elements of Visual Arts: Line and Form

Why: Understanding how lines and forms create visual impact can help students relate to how body shapes and postures create emotional impact in dance.

Key Vocabulary

Navarasa	The nine fundamental emotions or aesthetic sentiments central to Indian classical arts, including dance and drama.
Abhinaya	The art of expression in Indian dance and theatre, primarily involving facial expressions, gestures, and body movements to convey emotions and stories.
Rasa	A Sanskrit term meaning 'essence' or 'flavour', referring to the emotional state evoked in the audience by a performance.
Hastas	Specific hand gestures used in Indian classical dance to represent objects, actions, or emotions, often complementing facial expressions.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

All Navarasas use the same facial expressions with minor changes.

What to Teach Instead

Each rasa has distinct eye, eyebrow, and mouth positions, like wide eyes for Adbhuta versus narrowed for Bibhatsa. Pair mirroring helps students feel and see differences kinesthetically, correcting vague ideas through repeated practice.

Common Misconception

Body language plays no role; only the face matters in abhinaya.

What to Teach Instead

Postures amplify rasas, such as upright for Veera or hunched for Bhayanaka. Group sequences reveal how integrated movements convey emotion fully, as peers critique isolated versus combined expressions.

Common Misconception

Navarasas are just exaggerated acting, not rooted in tradition.

What to Teach Instead

They stem from Natyashastra with codified gestures. Class performances with reference images build respect for authenticity, as students refine through peer observation.

Active Learning Ideas

Mirror Pairs: Rasa Reflection

Pair students and assign one as leader to slowly perform facial expressions and postures for a rasa like Shringara. The follower mirrors precisely. Switch roles after two minutes and discuss matches in expressions.

30 min·Pairs

Group Sequence: Rasa Storyboard

In small groups, select two contrasting rasas such as Hasya and Raudra. Create a 30-second sequence transitioning between them using body language. Perform for the class and receive feedback on clarity.

45 min·Small Groups

Whole Class Charades: Rasa Guessing

One student performs a rasa silently with full abhinaya. The class guesses and justifies based on expressions and postures. Rotate performers and tally correct guesses.

25 min·Whole Class

Individual Sketch: My Rasa Poster

Students draw key facial features and postures for one assigned rasa, labelling mudras used. Share in a gallery walk and explain choices to peers.

35 min·Individual

Real-World Connections

• Actors in Bollywood films use exaggerated facial expressions and body language, drawing from the principles of Navarasas, to convey emotions like love (Shringara) or anger (Raudra) to a wide audience.
• Animators creating characters for animated movies, such as those produced by studios like Yash Raj Films Animation, study human emotions and body language to make their characters' feelings believable and engaging for viewers.
• Street performers and mime artists often rely on clear physical storytelling and emotional expression, similar to Navarasas, to communicate with diverse audiences without spoken words.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Show students images or short video clips of dancers expressing different emotions. Ask them to write down which Navarasa they believe is being portrayed and one specific facial or body cue that helped them identify it.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'How might a dancer express joy (Hasya) differently from peace (Shanta) using only their body and face?'. Facilitate a class discussion where students share their ideas and demonstrate potential movements.

Peer Assessment

Have students work in pairs. One student performs a short sequence expressing a Navarasa. The other student acts as an observer and provides feedback using a simple checklist: 'Was the emotion clear?', 'What specific gesture helped?', 'Suggest one way to make it stronger'.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the nine Navarasas in Indian classical dance?

The Navarasas are Shringara (love), Hasya (humour), Karuna (compassion), Raudra (anger), Veera (heroism), Bhayanaka (fear), Bibhatsa (disgust), Adbhuta (wonder), and Shanta (peace). Dancers express them via specific facial expressions, eye movements, and body postures as per abhinaya techniques in forms like Bharatanatyam or Kathak.

How can I teach students to differentiate rasas through body language?

Start with visual aids of master dancers, then use contrast charts for postures like joyful expansions in Hasya versus sorrowful contractions in Karuna. Follow with paired practice where students embody and critique each other, ensuring clear physical distinctions emerge.

How does active learning benefit teaching Navarasas?

Active approaches like mirroring and improvisation make emotions embodied, helping students grasp subtle differences in expressions that lectures miss. Peer feedback during performances refines authenticity, while group sequences build collaboration and confidence, turning passive viewing into skilled expression.

What simple activities introduce abhinaya for Class 6?

Use emotion charades for instant engagement, followed by poster sketches of rasa features. Extend to short solos where students perform one rasa, video-recorded for self-review. These scaffold from observation to creation, aligning with CBSE standards.