Nayak And Nayikas in Kathak
An important feature of the Nritya aspect of Kathak dance is the Nayak-Nayika Bheda, or the distinction between the
male and the female characters. Read more...
Readers are enclouraged to read the following link on our website which has illustrations of how various Nayeeks
are depicted in Kathak.
- Types of Nayikas
Gauri Jog explains types of female characters in Kathak Bharatnatyam dance such as Vasakasajja, Svadhinabhartrika, Kalabantarita, Virahotkanthita, Khandita, Vipralabdha etc
 The most essential quality of a dancer is his or her natural appearance. One's individual or
god-gifted appearance can undoubtedly be made more beautiful and attractive by make up, dress and ornaments.
Natural appearance of a dancer is the keynote of his success. Natural appearance or handsomeness or prettiness
by birth does not only mean fair complexion, but healthy, proportionate, well-built, attractive body.
Beautiful nose, lips, eyes, face, height, teeth, fingers etc are the basic ingredients of a beautiful
physique. Ordinary height, thin lips, big eyes, long and thin fingers etc. are the characteristic feature of a
handsome body.
A beautiful body is not the criterion of a dancer. He or she should be healthy and free from any disease.
Dancing is a good exercise for health. So an unhealthy dancer is unable to do the strenuous exercise meant for
dancing. Hence the second quality of a dancer is healthy body.
Besides good appearance and healthy body the dancer should have training from a good teacher. The dancer's guru
must be a proficient dancer and an expert trainer. The dancer's success largely depends on his or her dancing
education received from a good teacher.
The dancer must do Riaz, or constant practice of the art, or whatever he or she has learnt from his or her guru.
Laya plays a prominent part in Nritya. So a dancer should be Layadaar, that is to say, he or she should not commit
any mistake in rhythm and time beats, for which he or she has to practice regularly with the help of tabla and
pakhawaj.
A dancer, in addition, should not be addicted to any intoxication. Introxicated dancer is apt to lose his or her
established fame.
The dancer should also be self-confident, and should have reliance on his or her training and knowledge of
dancing, attained after vigorous labor. A dancer, when he or she loses confidence on the stage is invariably booed
and derided by the onlookers.
The Parhant system or the practice of reciting bols by the dancer on the stage with claps on the time beats is
traditional. Good recitation conveys clearly the intricacies of the bols to the audience. A dancer's recitation
should be forceful and attractive.
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