The mythological sage
Bharata is credited with writing a prescriptive treatise (shastra) for the
performing arts in the second century.
The book is organized into 37 parts, each of which covers
every facet of the three primary kinds of performance: music, theatre, and
dance (which combines both music and drama).
Some portions of the book are dedicated to aesthetics and
poetics, which aid in the creation and transmission of the appropriate
environment for art enjoyment.
Other sections of the book address concrete, practical
matters, such as the stage's construction.
For these three performing arts, the text remains
authoritative, but it is especially vital for dance.
The Natyashastra is the ultimate authority for any dance
style that purports to be "classical" rather than "folk"
dancing.
Many of the stances and gestures seen in Indian dance were
originally standardized in this work.
Discover more about Hindu Art, Architecture, and Iconography here.
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