The Laws of Movement: The Natyashastra as Archive for Indian Classical Dance.

An essay is presented which explores the ancient Indian dance performance treatise known as the Natyashastra. Topics discussed include the movement patterns and codes of the Indian classical dance which may be attributed to the principles of the Natyashastra, the aesthetic philosophy of the Natyashastra according to Indian classical dance scholar Kapila Vatsyayan, and the link between the caste system in India and the choreographic instructions of the Natyashastra.