The thighs are considered one of the Upāngas, or minor limbs according to the Natyashastra.

The movements of the thighs are used not only for the precise control in the execution of Nritta but also to communicate meaning in the context of gesture.

Please refer to the Shloka below for pronunciation. Please note that the separate movements of the head when put together in a Shloka form 'Sandhis', or compound words in the Sanskrit language. Words like 'ca', 'thatha', mean "and", "also". The separate words for each movement are also given below the shloka.

Kampanam valam caiva stambhanodvartane tathā
Nivartanam pañcaitānyūrukarmāni kārayet

Kampana
Valana
Stambhana
Udvartana
Nivartana