Kathak

Kathak is one of the classical dance form of northern India. Kathak literally means “ to tell a story”. It is a form of dance that narrates a mythological story by facial expressions and movements. Fast movements(tatkar) and spin (chakkar) are the hallmarks of the dance. Unlike many other classical dances of India, it is fast and always keep the audience on the edge, not to miss a single movement. The dance movements emphasize on the facial expressions and rhythmic movements. The classical dance is in the form of tandav and Lasya. Kathak has a distinguish history. In the ancient north India, nomadic bards known as kathaks(story teller) used to narrate stories form mythology to villages and temple courtyards. Later they started adding mime and gestures to recitation. The next stage in its evolution came in the 15th and 16th centuries with the popularization of Radha Krishna legends. During Mughal period, Kathak became a court dance and received encouragement. Kathak may be the only form of Indian dance , which drew inspiration from Hindu and Muslim culture. Also it depends on percussion music. The rhythms of ankle bells and percussions make the dance movement spellbinding. One can visually imagine the music. The combination of music and dance movements bestow a scintillating image. This theatrical dance form typically feature a solo dancer on the stage. The dancer slowly enter the stage and stand erect for sometime. One foot with heel raised is crossed before other one and one arm is raised above the head, and the other one extended to its side or placed at an angle before the body. The dancer begin with salutation (amad or salami), followed by recitation of dance syllables by steps (paranas), dramatic beats (tora) and the climax of a set of sequence with intricate devices of rthyms (turkas). Teh show end with permutation and combination of rhythmic steps with some fast movement (tatkars). The dance movement.

Major Styles Of Kathak Jaipuria Gharana – This is the style originated in the courts of Kachwaha Rajputs kings. Jaipuria style is renowned for fast spins and magical footwork. It is a complicated pure dance patterns. Lucknow Gharana or Style - it is more elegant than Jaipuria style, emphasize on the facial expressions and rhythmic movements. The whole story telling part of dance drama is very engrossing. This dance form easily captures the emotional quotient of audience and one will absorbed in the performance. Benaras Gharana or Style – This style is based on ‘natwari bols’ and simplest of three. Story telling is the common factor, but in Banaras style spin or chakkar is less prominent. All starts with slow gracious movements and slow cadences and gradually increase the speed with some amazing music. Musical Instruments Accompany Bharatnatyam Bansuri Dilruba Esraj Ghungharu Harmonium Pakhawaj Santur Sarangi Sarod Sitar Surmandal Tabla Tanpura Some Famous Training Institutes Under Kathak Maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj Akshara Theater, 11-12-b, Baba Kharag Singh Marg New Delhi(Besides Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital) Tagore International School Vasant Vihar New Delhi Under Purnima Pande 3/2,Officer's Colony kesarbagh, Lucknow- 226001 kathak Kendra Bhawalpur House Bhagwan Das Road New Delhi-110001 Nupur Zankar Center Samaj Kalyan Kendra Thakur complex, Kandivili East, Mumbai- 400101 Famous Bharatnatyam Maestros Pandit Birju Maharaj – He is the leading exponent of Lucknow gharana. Besides kathak, he is also master in Hindustani music and an accomplished vocalist. He innovated some Kathak dance dramas and made kathak popular in across the world. He won Padma Vibhusam in 1986, Sangeet Natak Academy award, Kalidas Samman, he received honorary doctorate from Banaras Hindu University and Khairagarh university. Chitresh Das – At the age of nine Chitresh Das started learning Kathak. He gradually mastered in both Lucknow and Jaipur gharana. He owned some reputed schools in USA. His accomplishment included Dance Icon of the West, Life Time Achievement Award in San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival, 2004, Irvine Fellowship in Dance from James Irvine Foundation, 2001 Sitara Devi - Sitara Devi is an eminent Kathak dancer born in Kolkata(1920). she performed in almost every part of India and also many countries. She has been confered many awards including Padma Shree, Kaildas Award, and received applause when she performed in Royal, Victoria hall in London and Carnegie Hall New York.