Kathak

Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. It began with traveling storytellers in ancient northern India called Kathakaar, who shared tales from the Hindu epics through dance, songs, and music. The name Kathak comes from the Sanskrit word kathaa, meaning "story".

Over time, Kathak grew more skilled in its movements while still telling stories. It developed during the Bhakti movement, especially through stories about the deity Krishna, and was supported by rulers in north Indian kingdoms. Later, during Mughal rule, emperors helped make Kathak popular in their royal courts. This is why Kathak is the only Indian classical dance with Persian influences, including the use of Urdu ghazal and instruments from that time.

Kathak dancers focus on rhythmic footwork, often wearing bells called Ghungroo on their ankles. Their movements match the music's rhythm, and they use their eyes, facial expressions, and arm gestures to tell stories. There are three main styles or schools of Kathak, called "gharana", named after the cities of Jaipur, Banares, and Lucknow, each with its own special qualities. Kathak has continued through oral tradition, passing from one generation to the next through teaching and practice. It faced a decline during British rule but 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 found in northern and other parts of India.

In ancient times, 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. A very 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. One of the oldest books about dance, the Natya Shastra, talks about many dance moves and ideas 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 as a way to show love and respect for the god Krishna. Dancers would tell stories about Krishna and his friend Radha, using their moves to show deep feelings and ideas.

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

When British leaders came to India, they didn’t like Kathak very much. They thought it was not proper. 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, in all its main styles, includes three main parts: an opening, a pure dance, and an expressive dance.

The opening, called vandana, has the dancer showing respect to their teacher and the musicians. In Hindu performances, the dancer uses facial expressions and hand gestures to call on gods and goddesses. In Muslim performances, the dancer gives a respectful greeting instead.

The pure dance, called nritta, starts slow with graceful movements 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, often about Hindu gods, using dance, music, and gestures. It aims to share feelings and ideas with the audience.

Instruments

In Kathak performances, different musical instruments are used to create a rich and varied 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), which help keep the rhythm and add beauty to the music. These instruments work together to 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 include Dhrupad in formal Kathak performances. One of his special Dhrupad pieces, called Shankar Pralayankar, is still often sung by famous Dhrupad 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 was inspired by stories of Krishna. Later, his family continued this style, which was supported by Rajput rulers. The Lucknow school started from a devotee of Krishna and grew when artists moved to Lucknow. The Banares school is thought to be the oldest, and its creator, Janakiprasad, helped create special rhythms used in Kathak dancing.

Relationship with other art forms

Kathak, a dance from northern India, is different from Bharatanatyam, a dance from southern India. Both dances come from an old Hindu book called Natya Shastra, but they have some unique styles. Kathak dancers often stand straight with their legs and body upright, while Bharatanatyam dancers frequently bend their knees into a special position.

Kathak is also not the same as Kathakali, another Indian dance. Kathakali started in the southwestern part of India, in a place now called Kerala. Kathakali dancers wear colorful makeup and costumes and often perform as different characters like heroes, gods, or animals. Both Kathak and Kathakali use special steps and hand movements, but Kathakali also includes jumps and leaps from martial arts.

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