NCERT Class 4 Arts Bansuri: Chapter 15 — My Dance Tells Stories
NCERT Class 4 Arts Bansuri Chapter 15, "MY DANCE TELLS STORIES," encourages students to express the Panchatantra story "The Lion and the Hare" through dance. The chapter introduces an "Animal Game" activity where students mimic animal movements and actions. It prompts them to think about how different animals move and suggests using specific mudras (hastas) like Mukula hasta for monkey hands, Sarpasheersha hasta for elephant ears, and Simhamukha hasta for an elephant's trunk. Students are encouraged to be creative and even invent their own hastas to represent animals like monkeys and elephants. This chapter aims to develop students' observational skills, creativity, and ability to translate stories into expressive dance movements, fostering a deeper understanding of non-verbal storytelling through the art of dance.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 4 |
| Subject | Arts |
| Book | Bansuri |
| Chapter | Chapter 15 — My Dance Tells Stories |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 1 minute |
| Word count | 178 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand how dance can tell stories.
- Explore and mimic animal movements through dance.
- Learn to use specific hastas (mudras) to represent animals.
- Develop creativity by inventing new hastas.
- Enhance observational skills by studying animal actions.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hastas | Hand gestures used in Indian classical dance. |
| Mukula hasta | A specific hand gesture, potentially resembling a bud or a closed fist, used to show monkey hands. |
| Sarpasheersha hasta | A hand gesture resembling a snake's head, used to depict elephant ears. |
| Simhamukha | A hand gesture resembling a lion's face, used for an elephant's trunk. |
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Practice questions
- What is the main idea of the "MY DANCE TELLS STORIES" chapter? Answer: The chapter teaches how to tell stories, like 'The Lion and the Hare', through dance and animal movements.
- Name one activity suggested in the chapter to learn about animal movements. Answer: The "Animal Game" is suggested to play based on animal movements.
- Which hasta can be used to show an elephant's ears? Answer: Sarpasheersha hasta can be used to show an elephant's big ears.
- What does the chapter encourage students to do besides using known hastas? Answer: Students are encouraged to create their own hastas.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of NCERT Class 4 Arts Bansuri Chapter 15?
Chapter 15 focuses on expressing stories, specifically 'The Lion and the Hare', through dance and mimicking animal movements.
What is the 'Animal Game' activity about?
The 'Animal Game' involves students quickly imitating the actions and movements of various animals as instructed by the teacher.
Which specific hastas are mentioned for representing animals?
Mukula hasta for monkey hands, Sarpasheersha hasta for elephant ears, and Simhamukha hasta for an elephant's trunk are mentioned.
Does the chapter encourage creating new dance movements?
Yes, the chapter encourages students to create their own hastas and movements to represent animals.
How does this chapter relate to the Panchatantra story?
It encourages students to adapt and express the Panchatantra story 'The Lion and the Hare' through dance movements.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 4 Arts — Bansuri — Chapter 15 — My Dance Tells Stories. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.