Kathak

Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It started with travelers in ancient northern India called Kathakaar. They told stories from the Hindu epics using dance, songs, and music. The name Kathak comes from the Sanskrit word kathaa, meaning "story".

Over time, Kathak became more skilled while still telling stories. It grew during the Bhakti movement, with tales about the deity Krishna. Rulers in north Indian kingdoms helped support it. Later, during Mughal rule, emperors helped make Kathak popular in their courts. This is why Kathak has some Persian influences, like the use of Urdu ghazal.

Kathak dancers focus on rhythmic footwork. They often wear bells called Ghungroo on their ankles. Their movements match the music's rhythm. They use their eyes, facial expressions, and arm gestures to tell stories. There are three main styles of Kathak, called "gharana", named after the cities of Jaipur, Banares, and Lucknow. Kathak has continued through oral tradition, passing from one generation to the next by teaching and practice. It became important again as India celebrated its heritage after independence.

Etymology and nomenclature

The word Kathak comes from an old Indian word, Katha, which means "story". It is different from many folk dances in northern and other parts of India.

Long ago, Kathak dancers were traveling storytellers called Kathakas or Kathakars. Over time, Kathak inspired simpler dance styles in different areas, like Bhavai in Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Another style that came from Kathak is Thumri.

History

Performance arts and culture teach us that dance and drama are very important. An old book called the Natya Shastra says that dance helps tell stories and share good ideas.

People have been enjoying Kathak dance for a very long time. This old book talks about many dance moves that are still used today. Ancient carvings from around 200 BCE show dancers doing moves that look like Kathak.

Long ago, storytellers called Kathakas would travel around telling stories from old Indian books. They used dance, music, and singing to share these tales with everyone.

During a time called the Bhakti movement, people started using Kathak to show love and respect for the god Krishna. Dancers would tell stories about Krishna and his friend Radha using their moves.

Later, when new leaders called the Mughals came to India, they loved watching Kathak dances too. The dance changed a little to fit their style, but it stayed beautiful and graceful.

When British leaders came to India, they didn’t like Kathak very much. But people in India kept practicing the dance in secret, especially in families. After India became independent, people started showing Kathak again and it became very popular. Today, Kathak is enjoyed by people of many different backgrounds.

Repertoire

A modern Kathak dance has three main parts: an opening, a pure dance, and an expressive dance.

The opening, called vandana, shows respect to the teacher and musicians. In Hindu performances, the dancer uses facial expressions and hand gestures. In Muslim performances, the dancer gives a respectful greeting.

The pure dance, called nritta, starts slow and then gets faster. The dancer uses special hand and foot movements, and small bells on the ankles called ghungroo. The expressive dance, called nritya, tells a story using dance, music, and gestures. It shares feelings and ideas with the audience.

Instruments

In Kathak performances, different musical instruments create a rich sound. A Kathak dancer is often accompanied by instruments like the tabla, a pair of hand drums that match the dancer's footwork. Other common instruments include the sarangi, harmonium, and manjira (hand cymbals). These instruments help keep the rhythm and add beauty to the music. They support the dancer's storytelling and movements.

Music

The ancient Indian music genre of Dhrupad was brought back into Kathak by a skilled dancer named Mahamahopadhyay Dr. Pandit Puru Dadheech. He was the first Kathak dancer to use Dhrupad in Kathak shows. One of his special Dhrupad pieces, called Shankar Pralayankar, is still sung by famous singers, the Gundecha Brothers.

Gharanas

Kathak is a dance style with three well-known schools, or gharanas: Jaipur, Varanasi, and Lucknow. Each school has its own focus. The Lucknow style emphasizes acting, while the Jaipur style focuses more on dance and footwork.

The Jaipur school began with a dancer named Bhanuji, who liked stories of Krishna. Later, his family kept this style alive, and it was supported by Rajput rulers. The Lucknow school started from a fan of Krishna and grew when artists moved to Lucknow. The Banares school is thought to be the oldest, and its creator, Janakiprasad, helped make special rhythms used in Kathak dancing.

Relationship with other art forms

Kathak is a dance from northern India. It is different from Bharatanatyam, a dance from southern India. Both dances come from an old Hindu book called Natya Shastra, but they have their own styles. Kathak dancers often stand straight, while Bharatanatyam dancers bend their knees.

Kathak is also not the same as Kathakali. Kathakali started in Kerala in southwestern India. Kathakali dancers wear colorful makeup and costumes and act as different characters. Both Kathak and Kathakali use special steps and hand movements, but Kathakali also has jumps and leaps.

Kathak and the Spanish dance Flamenco share some similar movements and rhythms.