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BOOK REVIEWDance games for digital age denizens- Ranee Kumare-mail: ranee@journalist.com July 5, 2026 Though not the first of its kind, this play activity book on Indian classical dance has a cutting edge with its mind games and pithy puzzles. Aptly titled 'Natya Kreeda' and authored by California-based Aria University professor Dr. Velury Sumitra (Dept of Kuchipudi), the glossy 46-page book is a mini handbook on dance, not just for kids but for dance aspirants across all ages.  It's a brilliantly conceived workbook with a definite design and direction. Replete with artistic pictures the table of contents, divides itself into seven chapters beginning with: 1) The dance Maze puzzle; 2) Word-finder; 3) Yati and builder games; 4) Jumbled word games; 5) Advanced puzzle sections; 6) Complex word-building and 7) Answers to the puzzles. The author has provided ample instructions to the practitioner/readers of this workbook in the form of one-page notes - on her own objective in crafting this book, another note to the dance teachers, a guiding page to the dance maze puzzles apart from aesthetic titles in Sanskrit with English tag line.  So, we have the Maze puzzle titled Kinkini Sodhini where the player (we) has to help the dancer find her Ghunguroo wading through the mire of pathways. A bit of intellect and one can crack these puzzles effortlessly. Similarly, Poorvaranga essentially directs us to help the Sutradhara (narrator who links the audience to the dance theme). Mukura Bala is about two baby dancers perched opposite each other across the circular maze. How do they reach the centre is for the practitioner to solve. Abhisari is a maze that is shaped like a temple tower with Nataraja figure in the centre and a dancer at the left corner gateway who needs help to make her way through the mire and reach the lord! Each of these indicate towards a lesson to be learnt and memorised. For instance, Sutradhara is about theatre and leadership. The Word finder puzzles like the Natya Angas, Sringara Rasa, Drishti Bhedas, Paada and Greeva Bhedas, Samyuta and Asamyuta Hastas. And under the jumbled word games, we have Sattvika Bhavas, Vyabhichari Bhavas, Dasarupakas, Lasyangas and Aharyabhinayas.  Difficult art grammar made fun-loving and seemingly easy to tackle are the Yati pages: Goppuccha Yati (both expansion and contraction forms), Dhamaru Yati, Mridanga Yati and Sama Yati. Each of these pages is preceded by notes that provide clues to solve the puzzle. The concluding pages of the book are allotted to complex puzzle finders - both tricky and testing our presence of mind.  The author in her note says that this workbook is an attempt to present Indian classical dance concepts through gamification. The focus is exclusively on dance theory and performance. A word by way of comment - there are no English plural for strictly Sanskrit or Indian language word. The usual rule is to keep it singular even in the case of more than one. Bedha and Hasta cannot be pluralised as Bedhas or Hastas, because they are not English words per se. Author Dr. Sumitra is a dance academician who has quite a few books to her credit. Her unique approach to mould the theory of dance in keeping with the generation of these times is commendable. The book, priced at Rs. 300 is worth the buy. The author can be reached through email at: spvelury@yahoo.com  Ranee Kumar is a journalist who brings in three decades of hard core journalistic experience with mainstream papers like the Indian Express and The Hindu to arts reporting. Her novel 'Song of Silence' and guest editing of attenDance widen her horizon. Post your comment Please provide your name / email id when you use the Anonymous / blog profile to post a comment. All appropriate comments posted in the blog will also be featured in the site. |
