basicslokas

The whole natya shastra is as if Bharatha muni is narrating. The following are the basic slokas.

     Pranamya Sirasaa devou pitaamaha Maheswarou
                 Naatya Shastram pravakshyami brahmanaaya dudahrutham.
meaning:I bow reverentially to you, Lord Brahma and Lord Shiva(the creator of dance) as the theorey(Shastra) of classical dance outpours my lips, as it was told to me by Lord Brahma(the creator of Natya Shatra)

     Devathaanaam Shirastasthu Gurunaam Aasya samsthithaha
               vakshasthaschaiva vipraanaam Seshetva niyamobhaveth.
meaning:The anjali hastha(both the palms with the fingers all stretched,facing each other.) is held over the head when praying to God, in front of the forehead,when it is the guru. When paying respects to scholars one should place anjali in font of the chest.For others there are no specified rules.

    Vishnu Shakthi samuthpanne chitravarne maheetale
                aneka ratna sampanne   Bhoomidevi namosthuthe.
meaning:Mother Earth is embbeded with precious gems and is a magnificient horizon of picturesque colors.We bow to you, the embodiment of beauty and wealth, conceived from Lord Vishnu's power and strength.

         Samudra vasane devi    parvatha sthana mandale
                 naatyam karishye bhoodevi   Paadaghatha kshamasvame.
meaning: Bhoodevi is gorgeous- the blue oceans are her flowing saree, the mountains- her full rounded breasts.Forgive me-as I hurt you, while I dance.

       Kati karna saamayathra   koorpaamsa Shirasthathaa
                samunatha mudaschaiva Saushthavam naama thad bhaveth.
meaning:The physique and the posture of a dancer are described in the above slokam.. The ears must align with the waist, head held straight, the elbows and the shoould align the neck, the body stretched forward, with the chest raised- then, the back must be straightened. This posture is called Saushthavam.

      Praayena karane kaaryo   Vaamo vakshasthithahkaraha
              charanaschanugachaapi   dakshinasthubhavethkaraha.
meaning:While doing a karana,left hand should be in front of the chest. The feet, placed flat must be so that the toes are in opposite direction. The knees, bent also face in the opposite direction(it seems like a diamond in the centre).One should always start with the right hand.

       Yoyam swabhavo lokasya   sukha dukha samanvithaha
                somgaathyabhinayaa petho   naatyamithya bidheeyathe.
meaning:The world is a stage where happiness and sorrow existin proportionate measure in everyone's life. Natya Shastram explains this through the body of the dancer.

        Naatyam nrithyam nrittamidi   munibhihi psrikeerthidam
             naatyam than naatakamchaiva   poojyam poorva kathayutham.
meaning:Dance has been classified into three groups by the saints: natyam, nritta and nrithyam. In Natyam, there must be a story, dialogue,rasa(flavor)and bhava (feelings).
        Rasaa bhava viheenanthu   nrutha nritta bidheeyathe
              Rasa bhava vyanjakathi   yutham nrithya mithiryathe.
meaning:The above 2 slokas describe the three groups of dance. The first one is Natyam as decribeb in the first slokam.
When there is negligible rasa or bhava, it is called nritta. When there is rasa and bhava, it is nrithya.