Andrey Lappa's
Dance of Shiva Levels

Single Arm Position Elements

In Andrey Lappa's Dance of Shiva there are 8 basic positions for each arm.

In the four Horizontal Positions the palms are held horizontally flat and are called

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4

In the four Vertial Positions the palms are held so that they face vertically outwards. They are called

  • a
  • b
  • c
  • d
Dance of Shiva Horizontal hand Positions

Shivanata Horizontal Hand Position Elements
Dance of Shiva Vertical hand Positions

Shivanata Vertical Hand Position Elements

Dual Arm Position Combinations

Using both arms at the same time there are a total of 64 different arm positions.

dance of shiva, all possible positions

Notice that in the picture, the positions on the blue background are those in which the arms are in the same plane. Both hands are horizontal (top left square) or both hands are vertical (bottom right square). Positions on the grey background are those in which one hand is vertical and the other horizontal.

Dual Arm Position Codes

When refering to positions with two arms we use a two digit code.

  • The digit on the left represents the position of the left arm.
  • The digit on the right is the position of the right arm.

In the pictures the labelling of each position is "mirrored." If my right arm in is position 1 then you mirror this by putting your left arm in position 1. If my left arm is in position b then you mirror this by putting your right arm in position b.

Single Arm Movement Elements

The first goal of the dance of shiva is to learn the movements necessary to connect each position to each other. If you consider only one arm at a time there are 8 basic movements including a "zero" move. The icons below show those 8 movements and how they connect the positions to each other.

F=Forward, B=Backward, T=Transquarter, C=Change, CT=Change Transquarter, CF=ChangeForward, CB=ChangeBackward.

shivanata same plane movement icons shivanata change plane movement icons

Four of these movements are same plane movements. The arm stays in the same plane. The other four movements are change plane movements. When doing these movements the arm changes plane from one "movement" to the other (from vertical to horizontal to vertical...)

Same Plane Movement Elements

shivanata same plane movement icons

Change Plane Movement Elements

shivanata change plane movement icons

Dual Arm Movement Combinations

The above movements can be combined into the 64 combinations shown below

Note that movements can also be divided into four quadrants:

  • Both arms do Same Plane movements
  • Both arms do Change Plane movements
  • One arm does Same Plane other arm does Change Plane Movement

Andrely Lappa's Dance of Shiva Levels

Each level in Andrey's Dance of Shiva focuses on specific movements from the above table and doing those movements from a selection of all possible positions of the dance of shiva.

Shivanata Levels 1, 2, 4 and 5 Overview

In Level 1 and Level 2 of Andrey Lappa's dance of shiva the movements practiced are:

  • F-F
  • B-B
  • F-B
  • B-F
  • T-T
  • C-C

In Level 1 these movements are practiced from the positions in which both hands are horizontal.

In Level 2, these same movements are practiced but from the positions in which the hands are in different planes.

In Level 4 and 5 the movements practiced are:

  • CF-CF
  • CB-CB
  • CF-CB
  • CB-CF

In Level 4 these movements are practiced from the positions in which the hands are in the same plane (Quadrants 1 and 2).

In Level 5 they are practiced from the positions in which the hands are in different planes (Quadrants 3 and 4).

Shivanata Level 3, Level 6 and Level 7 Overview

Levels 3, 6 and 7 differ from the other levels in that they focus on sequences of movements.

The Level 3 Sequence is:

  • F-F, Mirror, F-B, T-T.

The Level 6 Sequence is:

  • F-F Mirror, T-T Mirror, F-B Mirror, T-T Mirror.

The Level 7 Dance of Shiva Sequence can be read as:

  • F-T, C-B, B-C, T-F

These sequences (as far as I am aware) iare only practiced from positions in which both hands are in different planes (Quadrants 3 and 4).

Movement Tables

level 1, level 2, level 3, level 4, level 5, level 6, level 7

Level 1

Level 1 movements are: F-F, B-B, F-B, B-F, T-T with both arms in the same plane

Levels

1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
F-F 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-1
F-F 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
F-F 4-4 4-1 4-2 4-3
F-F 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
FORWARD-FORWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
a-a a-b a-c a-d
F-F b-b b-c b-d b-a
F-F c-c c-d c-a c-b
F-F d-d d-a d-b d-c
F-F a-a a-b a-c a-d
FORWARD-FORWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
B-B 4-4 4-1 4-2 4-3
B-B 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
B-B 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-1
B-B 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
BACKWARD-BACKWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
a-a a-b a-c a-d
B-B d-d d-a d-b d-c
B-B c-c c-d c-a c-b
B-B b-b b-c b-d b-a
B-B a-a a-b a-c a-d
BACKWARD-BACKWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
F-B 2-4 2-1 2-2 2-3
F-B 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
F-B 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-1
F-B 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
Forward-BACKWARD Movement Table
a-a a-b a-c a-d
F-B b-d b-a b-b b-c
F-B c-c c-d c-a c-b
F-B d-b d-c d-d d-a
F-B a-a a-b a-c a-d
Forward-BACKWARD Movement Table
1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
B-F 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-1
B-F 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
B-F 2-4 2-1 2-2 2-3
B-F 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table
a-a a-b a-c a-d
B-F d-b d-c d-d d-a
B-F c-c c-d c-a c-b
B-F b-d b-a b-b b-c
B-F a-a a-b a-c a-d

BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table

Level 2

Level 2 movements are: F-F, B-B, F-B, B-F, T-T with both arms in different planes

Levels

1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
F-F 2-b 2-c 2-d 2-a
F-F 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
F-F 4-d 4-a 4-b 4-c
F-F 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
FORWARD-FORWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
F-F b-2 b-3 b-4 b-1
F-F c-3 c-4 c-1 c-2
F-F d-4 d-1 d-2 d-3
F-F a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
FORWARD-FORWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
B-B 4-d 4-a 4-b 4-c
B-B 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
B-B 2-b 2-c 2-d 2-a
B-B 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
BACKWARD-BACKWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
B-B d-4 d-1 d-2 d-3
B-B c-3 c-4 c-1 c-2
B-B b-2 b-3 b-4 b-1
B-B a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
BACKWARD-BACKWARD MOVEMENT TABLE
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
F-B 2-d 2-a 2-b 2-c
F-B 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
F-B 4-b 4-c 4-d 4-a
F-B 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
Forward-BACKWARD Movement Table
a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
F-B b-4 b-1 b-2 b-3
F-B c-3 c-4 c-1 c-2
F-B d-2 d-3 d-4 d-1
F-B a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
Forward-BACKWARD Movement Table
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
B-F 4-b 4-c 4-d 4-a
B-F 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
B-F 2-d 2-a 2-b 2-c
B-F 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table
a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
B-F d-2 d-3 d-4 d-1
B-F c-3 c-4 c-1 c-2
B-F b-4 b-1 b-2 b-3
B-F a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4
BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d 2-a 2-b 2-c 2-d
T-T 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b 4-c 4-d 4-a 4-b
T-T 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d 2-a 2-b 2-c 2-d
Transquarter-Transquarter Movement Table
a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4 b-a b-2 b-3 b-4
T-T c-3 c-4 c-1 c-2 d-3 d-4 d-1 d-2
T-T a-1 a-2 a-3 a-4 b-1 b-2 b-3 b-4
Transquarter-Transquarter Movement Table

Level 3

The level 3 sequence is: F-F, Mirror, F-B, T-T with both hands in different planes.

Levels

1-a a-3 3-c c-1
F-F 2-b b-4 4-d d-2
Mirror b-2 4-b d-4 2-d
F-B c-1 1-a a-3 3-c
T-T a-3 3-c c-1 1-a
Movement table for Dance of Shiva Level 3 from 1-a
1-b b-3 3-d d-1
F-F 2-c c-4 4-a a-2
Mirror c-2 4-c a-4 2-a
F-B d-1 1-b b-3 3-d
T-T b-3 3-d d-1 1-b
Movement table 1-b
2-b b-4 4-d d-2
F-F 3-c c-1 1-a a-3
Mirror c-3 1-c a-1 3-a
F-B d-2 2-b b-4 4-d
T-T b-4 4-d d-2 2-b
Movement table 2-b
2-a a-4 4-c c-2
F-F 3-b b-1 1-d d-3
Mirror b-3 1-b d-1 3-d
F-B c-2 2-a a-4 4-c
T-T a-4 4-c c-2 2-a
Movement table 2-a

Level 4

Level 4 movements are: CF-CF, CB-CB, CF-CB, CB-CF, T-T, with both arms in the same plane.

Levels

1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
CF-CF b-b b-c b-d b-a
CF-CF 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
CF-CF d-d d-a d-b d-c
CF-CF 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
ChangeForward-ChangeForward
Movement Table

 

a-a a-b a-c a-d
CF-CF 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-1
CF-CF c-c c-d c-a c-b
CF-CF 4-4 4-1 4-2 4-3
CF-CF a-a a-b a-c a-d
ChangeForward-ChangeForward
Movement Table
1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
CB-CB d-d d-a d-b d-c
CB-CB 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
CB-CB b-b b-c b-d b-a
CB-CB 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
ChangeBackward-ChangeBackward
Movement Table
a-a a-b a-c a-d
CB-CB 4-4 4-1 4-2 4-3
CB-CB c-c c-d c-a c-b
CB-CB 2-2 2-3 2-4 2-1
CB-CB a-a a-b a-c a-d
ChangeBackward-ChangeBackward
Movement Table
1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
CF-CB b-d b-a b-b b-c
CF-CB 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
CF-CB d-b d-c d-d d-a
CF-CB 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
Forward-BACKWARD Movement Table
a-a a-b a-c a-d
CF-CB 2-4 2-1 2-2 2-3
CF-CB c-c c-d c-a c-b
CF-CB 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-1
CF-CB a-a a-b a-c a-d
Forward-BACKWARD Movement Table
1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
CB-CF d-b d-c d-d d-a
CB-CF 3-3 3-4 3-1 3-2
CB-CF b-d b-a b-b b-c
CB-CF 1-1 1-2 1-3 1-4
BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table
a-a a-b a-c a-d
CB-CF 4-2 4-3 4-4 4-1
CB-CF c-c c-d c-a c-b
CB-CF 2-4 2-1 2-2 2-3
CB-CF a-a a-b a-c a-d
BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table

Level 5

Level 4 movements are: CF-CF, CB-CB, CF-CB, CB-CF, T-T, with both arms in different planes.

Levels

1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
CF-CF b-2 b-3 b-4 b-1
CF-CF 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
CF-CF d-4 d-1 d-2 d-3
CF-CF 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
Double Change Forward Movement Table
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
CB-CB d-4 d-1 d-2 d-3
CB-CB 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
CB-CB b-2 b-3 b-4 b-1
CB-CB 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
Double Change Backward Movement Table
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
CF-CB b-4 b-1 b-2 b-c
CF-CB 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
CF-CB d-2 d-3 d-4 d-1
CF-CB 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
Change Forward-Change Backward Movement Table
1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
CB-CF d-2 d-3 d-4 d-1
CB-CF 3-c 3-d 3-a 3-b
CB-CF b-4 b-1 b-2 b-3
CB-CF 1-a 1-b 1-c 1-d
BACKWARD-Forward Movement Table

Level 6

The level 6 sequence is: F-F Mirror, T-T Mirror, F-B Mirror, T-T Mirror with both hands in different planes.

Levels

Special Note: when doing this level I found it easiest as follows.

  • First say F-F and do the transformation in your head i.e. 1-a to 2-b. Don't do the move. Then say mirror and do the transformation in your head i.e. 2-b to b-2.
  • Now move your arms from 1-a to b-2.
  • For the next move, say T-T and do the math: b-2 to d-4. Then say mirror and do the math: d-4 to 4-d. Now move your arms from b-2 to 4-d.
  • Use the same process for all "combined mirror" movements.

Notice that each table only has two columns of positions since this sequence only repeats 2 times.

 

1-a 3-a
F-F Mirror b-2 b-4
T-T Mirror 4-d 2-d
F-B Mirror c-1 c-3
T-T Mirror 3-a 1-a

Movement Table from 1-a
1-c 3-c
F-F Mirror d-2 d-4
T-T Mirror 4-b 2-b
F-B Mirror a-1 a-3
T-T Mirror 3-c 1-c

Movement Table from 1-c
1-b 3-b
F-F Mirror c-2 c-4
T-T Mirror 4-a 2-a
F-B Mirror d-1 d-3
T-T Mirror 3-b 1-b

Movement Table from 1-b
1-d 3-d
F-F Mirror a-2 a-4
T-T Mirror 4-c 2-c
F-B Mirror b-1 b-3
T-T Mirror 3-d 1-d

Movement Table from 1-d

If you look at the top cell of the second column we have the following positions: 3-a, 3-b, 3-c, 3-d. As a result we now only need to start from 2-a, 2-b, 2-c and 2-d to practice this set of movements completely using the horizontal-vertical starting positions.

2-a 4-a
F-F Mirror b-3 b-1
T-T Mirror 1-d 3-d
F-B Mirror c-2 c-4
T-T Mirror 4-a 2-a

Movement Table from 2-a
2-c 4-c
F-F Mirror d-3 d-1
T-T Mirror 1-b 3-b
F-B Mirror a-2 a-4
T-T Mirror 4-c 2-c

Movement Table from 2-c
2-b 4-b
F-F Mirror c-3 c-1
T-T Mirror 1-a 3-a
F-B Mirror d-2 d-4
T-T Mirror 4-b 2-b

Movement Table from 2-b
2-d 4-d
F-F Mirror a-3 a-1
T-T Mirror 1-c 3-c
F-B Mirror b-2 b-4
T-T Mirror 4-d 2-d

Movement Table from 2-d

Level 7

The level 7 sequence is: F-T, C-B, B-C, T-F.

Levels

1-a c-3
F-T 2-c d-1
C-B b-b 4-4
B-C a-2 3-d
T-F c-3 1-a
1-c c-1
F-T 2-a d-3
C-B b-d 4-2
B-C a-4 3-b
T-F c-1 1-c
1-b c-4
F-T 2-d d-2
C-B b-c 4-1
B-C a-3 3-a
T-F c-4 1-b
1-d c-2
F-T 2-b d-4
C-B b-a 4-3
B-C a-1 3-c
T-F c-2 1-d

 

2-a d-3
F-T 3-c a-1
C-B c-b 1-4
B-C b-2 4-d
T-F d-3 2-a
2-c d-1
F-T 3-a a-3
C-B c-d 1-2
B-C b-4 4-b
T-F d-1 2-c
2-b d-4
F-T 3-d a-2
C-B c-c 1-1
B-C b-3 4-a
T-F d-4 2-b
2-d d-2
F-T 3-b a-4
C-B c-a 1-3
B-C b-1 4-c
T-F d-2 2-d

 

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