What is Kathak?

Kathak is a major classical dance form of Northern India. The word Kathak comes from the original Sanskrit word "Kathakar" which literally means a story teller. “Katha” means a story and Kathakar means a storyteller. "Katha kare so Kathakar", which meant "one who tells a story is a storyteller". Read more...

Kathak is a major classical dance form of Northern India. The word Kathak comes from the original Sanskrit word "Kathakar" which literally means a story teller. “Katha” means a story and Kathakar means a storyteller. "Katha kare so Kathakar", which meant "one who tells a story is a storyteller". Traditionally these story tellers were both men and women, a woman storyteller was known as "Kathika" and a male storyteller was "Kathaka". These so called nomadic bards of ancient northern India, performed in village squares and temple courtyards, mostly specialized in recounting mythological and moral tales from the scriptures, and embellished their recitals with hand gestures and facial expressions. It was quintessential theatre, using instrumental and vocal music along with stylized gestures, to enliven the stories.

With the advent of Mughal culture, Kathak became a sophisticated chamber art. Under the patronage of medieval rulers and Nawabs a class of dancing girls and courtesans emerged to entertain the palaces and courts. Medieval traditions imparted Kathak a distinct Hindu-Muslim texture. Patronized by art loving rulers, the practitioners of Kathak worked at refining its dramatic and rhythmic aspects, delighting elite audiences with their mastery over rhythm and the stylized mime.

The technique of Kathak today is characterized by fast rhythmic footwork set to complex time cycles. The footwork is matched by the accompanying percussion instruments such as tabla and pakhawaj, and the dancer and percussionists often indulge in a virtuoso display of rhythmic wizardry. The dance movements include numerous pirouettes executed at lightning speed and ending in statuesque poses. The interpretative portion, based on tales of Radha and Krishna and other mythological lore, contains subtle gestures and facial expressions.

Lucknow, Banaras and Jaipur are recognized as the three schools, or gharanas, where this art was nurtured and where the interpretative and rhythmic aspects were refined to a high standard.

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