Dance encyclopedia

Nritya

Indian art form.

Indiadance
Nritya
Image: Ms Sarah Welch · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

About Nritya

Nritya (Sanskrit: नृत्य, IAST: nṛtya), also referred to as nritta, natana or natya, is "dance, act on the stage, act, gesticulate, play" in the Indian traditions. It is sometimes subdivided into two forms: nritta or pure dance, where the expressionless movements of a dancer play out the rhythms and phrases of the music; and nritya or expressive dance, where the dancer includes facial expression and body language to portray mood and ideas with the rhythmic movements.

From the Wikipedia article “Nritya”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Nritya is associated with India. Explore related traditions below or compare it with the most popular dance styles in the United States.

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