NCERT Class 7 Arts Kriti: Chapter 11 — Dance Vocabulary and Techniques
This chapter introduces fundamental concepts in Indian classical dance: Nritta, Nritya, and Natya, as defined in the Abhinaya Darpana. Nritta involves pure dance movements without emotive content. Nritya combines dance with narration, expressing emotions (rasa) and moods (bhava). Natya is a dance drama that integrates all performance elements to tell a complete story. The chapter focuses on Nritta, exploring basic steps, rhythms, and foot positions like heel, toe, crossing, and jumping. It encourages students to create their own combinations using different rhythmic beats (e.g., 5, 6, 7) and bols. The text suggests aligning dance practice with mathematics for better understanding of counting and beats, aiding students in their CBSE Arts curriculum.
Quick info
| Board | CBSE / NCERT |
|---|---|
| Class | Class 7 |
| Subject | Arts |
| Book | Kriti |
| Chapter | Chapter 11 — Dance Vocabulary and Techniques |
| Language | English |
| PDF type | NCERT Textbook |
| Session | CBSE 2026 |
| Reading time | 2 minutes |
| Word count | 379 |
Learning outcomes
- Understand the definitions of Nritta, Nritya, and Natya in Indian classical dance.
- Identify and practice basic dance steps and foot positions.
- Explore different rhythmic beats and their combinations in dance.
- Develop creativity by creating personal dance sequences.
- Appreciate the connection between dance, rhythm, and mathematical concepts.
Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Nritta | Dance with movements without specific emotive content or narrative. |
| Nritya | Combines dance with narration of stories or situations with rasa and bhava. |
| Natya | A dance drama where all aspects of performance are integrated to narrate a full story. |
| Rasa | Aesthetic flavor or emotion evoked in classical Indian arts. |
| Bhava | Mood or emotion expressed in classical Indian arts. |
| Abhinaya Darpana | A classical Indian text on the art of performance, widely followed by dancers. |
| Bols | Rhythmic syllables used in Indian classical music and dance. |
The complete chapter text is read in the official NCERT PDF viewer below (streamed from ncert.nic.in). This page provides NCERT Help study material — summary, vocabulary, practice questions, and FAQs — not a full reproduction of the textbook.
Read chapter online
This PDF is loaded from the official NCERT website (ncert.nic.in). Use the page buttons below to read — download is disabled on NCERT Help.
Read page by page below. PDF is streamed from the official NCERT website — no download button on this page.
Practice questions
- What is the primary difference between Nritta and Nritya? Answer: Nritta is pure dance with movements, while Nritya combines dance with expression of emotions and narration.
- Define Natya. Answer: Natya is a dance drama that integrates all performance aspects to tell a complete story.
- List three ways the feet can be used as described in the chapter. Answer: Heel (front), Feet together, Toe (front and back), Cross in front, Side, Cross at the back, Jump with one leg raised, Jump with both legs.
- What is the purpose of 'Bols' in dance? Answer: Bols are rhythmic syllables used to structure and count the beats in dance.
Frequently asked questions
What are the three main components of Indian classical dance discussed in this chapter?
The three components are Nritta (pure dance movements), Nritya (dance with expression and narration), and Natya (dance drama).
Which text is referred to for the definitions of Nritta, Nritya, and Natya?
The text referred to is Abhinaya Darpana.
What is the focus of Nritta in dance?
Nritta focuses on dance movements without any specific emotive content or narrative.
How does Nritya differ from Nritta?
Nritya combines dance movements with the expression of emotions (rasa and bhava) and narration of stories or situations.
What are 'Bols' used for in dance?
Bols are rhythmic syllables used to define and count the beats in dance.
What is the suggested connection between dance and mathematics in this chapter?
The chapter suggests aligning dance practice with mathematics for a better understanding of counting and beats.
Related resources
Important topics
Topics covered
NCERT Class 7 Arts — Kriti — Chapter 11 — Dance Vocabulary and Techniques. Verified by NCERT Help Editorial Team. Reviewed on 29 Jul 2026. Last updated 10 Aug 2026.