"The dancer sings with her mouth, expresses the meaning of the song with her hands,
Indicates the emotions with her eyes, and beats the rhythm with her feet.
Where the hand goes, the eye goes,
Where the eye goes, there the mind follows.
Where the mind is, the heart is also,
And where the heart is, there love arises.
The aim of Abhinaya is to arouse love in the spectator."

~ Nandikeshwara (3-4AD)

This ancient Sanskrit verse describes the direct line of attention through body, mind and heart, and reveals the dancer and the onlooker as the same. The word "Abhinaya" is a Sanskrit word that essentially means "to reveal, to move towards, to bring home".

Abhinaya explores movement arising from stillness, and returning to stillness. Practices include simple walking, complex foot rhythms, story dances and devotional dances. Hand gestures and mime tell stories from many scriptural sources.

Abhinaya can be enjoyed by anyone - experience, age or gender matter not. It may be used as a vehicle for self-expression, or as means to feel the divine qualities through movement - either way, it has been a beautiful revelation.

Abhinaya brings well-being and great delight to both the dancer and the onlooker. In the words of the children:

"It is like you have a chance to show your inner self to the universe. It helps you to feel free."
"… a dance of devotion and love to God and myself."
"… the effect on others is they feel blessed and like the sun shining on them it is taking them up to heaven."
"… you might become one with God."

Other Activities for Philosophy Students

All students attending philosophy classes in Johannesburg are invited to join any of the following activities held at the Belgravia venue.