Kathak

Overview

Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. Its origin is attributed to the traveling bards of ancient northern India known as Kathakaar, meaning "storyteller", who communicated narratives from the Hindu epics through dance, song, and music. The name derives from the Sanskrit word kathaa, meaning "story", and kathakaar, "the one who tells a story". Over time, the form acquired sophisticated technical movement alongside its narrative features, and present-day performers generally place equal emphasis on both aspects.

Kathak evolved during the Bhakti movement, particularly through the incorporation of childhood stories of the Hindu deity Krishna, and also developed independently in the courts of North India. During Mughal rule, emperors served as patrons of Kathak and actively promoted it in their royal courts. The Nawab of Awadh, Wajid Ali Shah, was himself a practitioner of the form. Kathak performances often include the Urdu ghazal and use instruments introduced during the Mughal period, making it the only Indian classical dance form to feature notable Persian elements.

Stylistically, Kathak emphasises rhythmic footwork, with the ankles adorned with small bells (ghungroo), and movement harmonised to the music and especially to its rhythm. The legs and torso are generally held straight. When a story is being narrated, it is conveyed through a developed vocabulary of arm gestures, upper body movement, facial expressions, neck and eye movements, eyebrow play, stage movements, bends, and turns. The eyes and footwork form the principal focus of the dance: the eyes serve as the chief medium for communicating the narrative, while the eyebrows lend nuance to expression.

Kathak is primarily preserved in distinct styles or schools known as gharanas, each named after the city where its tradition developed. The principal gharanas include those of Jaipur, Banaras, and Lucknow. Each gharana places its own emphasis on aspects such as footwork, abhinaya (expressive storytelling), or rhythmic intricacy, while sharing the broader vocab

References

• English Wikipedia page for Kathak