Dasaprana & its relevance Daasarupaka

     

                Qualities of a dancer  -

 

The word “Dasaprana” means “tenqualities ” . Nandikeshwara in his book talks about the 10 qualities of a dancer.  The standard of beauty and the quotient of desirability varies depending on the region, time frame, culture, environment. For example South east Asian countries prefer skin as white as snow, while a shade of tan is more desirable in NORTH American countries. Again, size zero figure are a fashion in European countries while Middle Eastern counties prefer round figure.Abhinaydarpana was written during. The relevance of this Dasaprana may raise a heated debate. During modern times, many find the intelligence to  be more attractive than physical beauty. We no longer use white base for make-up rather cosmetics which suit our skin tone. With the change in time requirements and necessity of a dancer have changed. Previously, dancer’s role and time on stage was restricted. Society as a whole supported Art and Artists along with state sponsorships. Post-Independence like every aspect of Indian life, the life of Art and Artists are going through many changes.  Dancers today try to be Performer, Choreographer, Composer, Art director, Teacher, Group Director, Organiser, Author and what not. This though is the need of the hour, takes a toll on the dancer and dances itself. For example, it is mandatory for a choreographer to have widespread knowledge of Shastras and ancient text along with modern literature. Only then the work will have depth and will be of good quality. An organiser has to have the economic sense and management skills to excel. Like wise the role of a teacher should not be restricted to teaching few items, its more of a holistic approach to teaching history, philosophy and traditions along with theories of shastras. Though the Dasaprana mentioned in the ancient text was appropriate for that age, as per my belief we need to revisit and find out what other qualities that we need to inculcate in order to give the art form a new height. Male dancers or Actors need to have 11 qualities as per Abhinaya Darpana like “Should be born of a high class mother”.  This (Class/ Creed / Strata of the society ) is no longer a barrier to anyone becoming a dancer in today’s world. It depends of the willingness of the person.  Indian society as a whole do not support such discrimination openly and it is extremely unparliamentary.

Slokam

TanviRoopavathiShyamaPeenonnathapaydhara |                                                                              PragalbhaSarasakanthaKushalagrahamokshayoho|   

Chari tala layabhijna mandala – sthanapandita ||                                                                                    Hastangasthananipunakaranesuvilasini ||Vishaalalochanageetavadyataalaanuvarthani |                                                                                        Parardaryabhooshasamapannaprasannamukhapankaja |                                      YevamVidhagunopethanarthakisaamudiritha ||

Meaning:A woman is considered as a Dancer ( Nartaki) if she possesses the following qualities : proper stature, charming bright shyama skin colour, full rounded breasts, self confident  and experst, playful, agreeable. Experst in beginning and ending the critical passages, skilled in chari movements, rhythm and tempo, skilled in mandala, experts in using hastas, various limbs or angarasa and sthanakas, graceful in handling Karanas, has large eyes, able to follow the song being rendered along with instruments and tala ardorned with best jewels, and has  a charming face like lotus.

 

Sanskrit Words	Meaning
Tanvi	Proper Stature
Roopavathi	Beautiful/ Charming
Shyama	Young dark colour
Peenonnathapayodhara	Full round Breast
Pragalbha	Expert/ Self Confidence
Sarasa	Pleasing / Playful
Kaantha	Lovely / Agreeable
Kushalagrahamokshayoho	Intelligent and smart enough to know when to dance and when to stop ( dancer cannot be swayed away by impuse and has to be self aware and self possessed )
Cari tala layabhijna	Skilled in Chari movements, tala
Mandala – sthanapandita	Skilled in mandala
Hasta angasthananipunna	Expert in using hastas, various limb movements, angarasas and sthanakas
Karanesuvilasini	Graceful in hanadling  Karanas
Vishal Lochana	Big Eyes
GeethaVaadhyaTaalaAnuvarthani	Ablitlity to understand music, instrumenentsinaccordance to taalam
Parardaryabhooshasamapanna	Good clothes and best jewellery
prasannamukhapankaja	With a happy face just like lotus

 

Disqualification of a Female Dancer

NS also talks about the girls who are disqualified as dancers or VARJANIYAPATRANI . While reading the following text lets understand the time when this text was written. With the change of age these disqualifications have changed.

Slokam

PuspaksiKesahina ca sthulosthilambitasatani |   Atisthulapyatikrasaatyuccapyativamana ||                                                                                                        Kubja ca svarahina ca dasaitanatyavarjita |

1.       Girls who have white speck on the eyeballs        

2.       Women with Scanty hair              

3.       Thick Lips

4.       Girls who doesn’t have round breasts   

5.       Girls who are either very fat or very thin

6.       Girls who are very short or very tall

7.       Girls who have hunched back    

8.       Girls who have no voice/ no good voice

 

 

 

Inner Qualities of aFemale Dancer

Inner Qualities of a Female Dancer
Sl. No.	DasaGuna	Notes
1.	Javaha	AGILITY to move rapidly without losing balance
2.	Sthirathwam	STEADINESS to maintain the structure and posture during different rhythms
3.	Rekhacha	While dancing, the dancer should maintain the beauty. All postures should be connected to each other in order to form a beautiful lines
4.	Bhramari	Maintain balance during CIRCULAR movements
5.	Dhristi	Eye movement must be in sync with the body movements and the rythmn
6.	Shramaha	Hard work and ability to endure is important for both confidence and motivation
7.	Medha	A dancer should be clever , courteous, bold
8.	Shradha	DEVOTION and CONCENTRATION is pretty much required to take any art to a new level
9.	Vacho	Good SPEECH is an added benefit for a dancer. One should be able to narrate the stroryline, tell the sollus while dancing
10.	Geetam	Ability to understand and sing songs is one of the important qualities

 

 

Qualities of a Male Dancer/ Actor

Slokam

JavahaSthiratwamRekhachaBhramari Drishti Shramaha |                                                                           Medha Shraddha VachoGeethamPaathrapraanaDashaSmruthaha||

 

 

Qualities of a Male Dancer/ Actor
1.	Rupavan	Charming/ Good Looking
2.	Madhubhasi	Speaks sweetly
3.	Krti	Learned
4.	Vagmi	Eloquent
5.	Tatha Putuh	Steady
6.	KulanganaSutah	Son of a woman of high birth
7.	Sastrajnah	Learned in the treatises on art
8.	Madhurasvarah	Sweet Voice
9.	Gita- Vadya Adi Nrtyajnah	Good knowledge in songs, instruments
10.	Siddhakah	Self Confidence
11.	Pratibhanava	Having ready wit

 

 

 

 

Slokam

RupavanMadhubhasiKrtiVagmiPutuh Tatha |                                                                                          KulanganaSutahscaivaSastrajnoMadhurasvarah ||                                                                                                                                 Gita- Vadya Adi NrtyajnoSiddhakahPratibhanava |                                                                                                                              Etadrsagunaihyuktonataityucyatebudhaih ||

 

Outter Qualities of a Dancer

Abhinaya Darpana talks about the Patra BahiPrana or the outer qualities of a dancer or the skills that can be acquired.  It talks about the skillset or the knowledge that is required for a dancer.  It specifically mentions Mridanga, Cymbal, Venuh, Srutih, Ekavina, Kinkini, Song, Good singer (male as per the Slokam) - the eight aspect that’s important. The most important part of this sloka is still in today’s world each dance for specifically follows the same music pattern. 

Slokam

Mrdangascasutala ca venuhgitih tatha srutih ||                                                                                                                  Ekavinakinkini ca gayakascasuvisrutah |                                                                                                                                      Ityevamanvayajnaiscapatrapranahbahihsmrtah ||

Qualities of a Disciple

Bharata also mentions the 6 Qualities of a Disciple – Intelligence, Memory, Willingness to serve (Slagha), Devotion (to work), Spirit of emulation (samgharsa) and enthusiasm.

Slokam

Medhasmritirgunaslagharagahsamgharseva ca |                                                                                                                       utsahascasadevaitesisyasyapigunahsmrtah ||