Rabindra Nritya Natya

Rabindra Nritya Natya is the group of three dance-dramas composed by Bengal's poet laureate Rabindranath Tagore: Chitrangada, Chandalika and Shyama. The principal characteristic of these works is that the story is told entirely through dance and song. The dances included in them were in the dance form created by Tagore. Tagore also included dance in earlier works such as Tasher Desh (The Country of Cards), though these are not regarded as Rabindra Nritya Natya.

The list of dance drama or Nritya Natya by Rabindranath Tagore is as follows:

• Shyama
• Chitrangada
• Chandalika
• Kalmrigaya
• Valmiki Pratibha
• Prakritir Protishodh
• Mayar khela
• Tasher Desh
• Biday Abhishap

Sometimes songs are selected from the vast range of Rabindrasangeet and then they are clubbed with the drama by Rabindranath Tagore and is performed as Nritya Natya. The plays "Rakta Karabi", "Natir puja", "Raja", "Arupratan", "Muktadhara" etc. drama have often been performed as Rabindra Nritya Natya. The dance forms used are mainly adapted versions of Bharatnatyam, Manipuri and Kathakali. The key point of Rabindra Nritya Natya is expressive dancing. Facial expressions play a vital role. The dancer should entirely immerse herself or himself into the character while maintaining the proper dancing style. Nowadays sometimes Odissi, Kathak and Kuchipudi dancing styles have also been performed in Rabindra Nritya Natya.