Class 6 Arts (Kriti-I) Chapter 12, My Body in Motion, opens the Dance section with the famous Abhinaya Darpana shloka (Yatho hastah thatho drishtih) and introduces joint-aware movement, breath coordination, classical dance postures, facial expressions (Abhinaya) and Hastamudras.
What Class 6 Art Chapter 12 Covers
Routine Movements, Postures & Spinal Bents (Activities 1–2) turns everyday actions into rhythmic movement, explores the characteristic stances of Indian classical dances (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya) and practices spinal bends and footwork.
Abhinaya, Asamyukta & Samyukta Hastamudras (Activities 3–6) practices facial expressions (Abhinaya) and teaches single-hand gestures (Asamyukta Hastamudras like Pataka, Tripataka, Mayura, Sikharam) and double-hand gestures (Samyukta Hastamudras like Anjali, Kapotham, Karkata) to choreograph a complete song sequence.
Exercises in Chapter 12
- Studio Activities, step-by-step creative exercises, and peer/self-reflection prompts.
Read Class 6 Art Chapter 12 Online
More Chapters
- Previous: Chapter 11: Music and Society
- Next: Chapter 13: Breaking Barriers with Dance
- Hindi medium: Class 6 Arts Chapter 12 PDF in Hindi (Kriti-I)
- All Art chapters and the other Class 6 books: Class 6 NCERT books 2026-27
- All Class 1 to 12 NCERT Textbooks: NCERT Books PDF (Class 1–12)
- Every book chapter by chapter: NCERT chapter wise PDF
FAQ
What is the meaning of the Sanskrit verse ‘Yatho hastah thatho drishtih, Yatho drishtih thatho manah’?
‘Where the hand (hastah) goes, the eyes (drishtih) follow; where the eyes go, the mind (manah) is directed; where the mind is concentrated, emotion (bhava) arises; and where there is bhava, aesthetic joy (rasa) permeates.’
What is the difference between Asamyukta and Samyukta Hastamudras in Indian dance?
Asamyukta Hastamudras are single-hand gestures performed with one hand (such as Pataka or Mayura), while Samyukta Hastamudras are joint-hand gestures formed using both hands together (such as Anjali for salutation).