Abhinaya

(“bringing near”) In Indian drama, the
general name given to acting. Its ultimate purpose is to convey an emotion
through a look or gesture and thus
“bring” it to the audience. In Indian
dance, this term refers to a piece in
which the dancer acts out a story, with
the aim to convey to the viewers the
emotions of her character. Particularly
with Indian dance, this sort of acting is
not mere artistry, however refined, but
carries explicit religious meaning. Not
only is the story’s content often drawn
from religious literature, but most
Indian dance forms were first performed in temples as entertainment
for the resident deity.