Indian Classical Dance - Kathak

Indian Classical Dances

There are 8 different forms of Indian Classical dances.

1. Bharatanatyam (Tamil Nadu)
2. Kuchipudi (Andhra Pradesh)
3. Kathakali (Kerala)
4. Kathak (Uttar Pradesh)
5. Odissi (Odisha)
6. Mohiniyattam (Kerala)
7. Sattriya (Assam)
8. Manipuri (Manipur)

Kathak

• Region - Uttar Pradesh (UP)
• Evolution of Kathak
• Features of Kathak
• Some of the famous proponents/personalities associated with Kathak

Evolution of Kathak dance 

• It started from the temples of Braj Bhumi (Braj Areas) in Western UP.
• The proponents of this form recited the stories from Ramayana, Mahabharata, Puranas, etc. and also danced on these stories.
• Slowly, it started to become popular in other areas too.
• With the arrival of Mughals in India, it acquired a new colour and Persian influence started to reflect in this dance form.
• It transferred itself from the temple dance to the Royal Court dance.

Features of Kathak 

1. Kathak is very different from all the other classical dance form. It heavily emphasised on full foot contact with the dance floor whereas in other classical dance forms bent position (i.e., toe contact) is emphasised.
2. Kathak dancers made sounds with their feet and ghunghroo. That's why full feet contact is necessary.
3. The costume of male dancers is known as Angrakha (inspired from Indian tradition) whereas the costume of female dancers is known as Anarkali Suit (inspired from Persian tradition). The Anarkali suit is narrow at the top and wider at the base. 
4. The female dancer usually jumps and takes a turn in the air which provides elegance to the dance form.
5. Kathak has the following elements of recitals -
1. Gatabhav
2. Kramalaya
3. Tukda
4. Toda
5. Adavus
6. Jugal bandi
7. Padhant
6. Jugal bandi is a competitive play between the tabla musician and the dancer.
7. Many a time dancers started to interact with the audience.
8. It is very unique dance form where presence of Gharana System is there. The name of the Gharana is usually taken from the place where it is performed.
9. Some of the popular Gharanas of the Kathak dance form are as follows:
1. Jaipur Gharana (it is more rhythmic)
2. Lucknow Gharana (it is more expressive)
3. Banaras Gharana (it is more symmetric)
10. Initially, Dhrupad Music was used during the performance but later with the arrival of Mughals Jhumri, Trana and Ghazals were also used during the performance.

Some of the famous proponents of Kathak 

1. Birju Maharaj
2. Lacchu Maharaj
3. Damyanti Joshi
4. Sitara Devi

Previous Article - Manipuri and Sattriya 

Next Article - Folk dances of India

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Note - This is my Vision IAS Notes (Vision IAS Class Notes) and Ashutosh Pandey Sir's Public Administration Class notes. I've also added some of the information on my own. 

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