Rabindranath Tagore, playwright and poet, used its dances when working to revive forgotten native arts.

Kathak is also from the north: it is a court, not a religious, dance, although it tells the legends of the gods. It flourished in the time of Moslem conquerors who, unlike Hindus, looked on dancing as entertainment. Thus its purpose is akin to Western ballerinas. Its elegant, exciting, lightning turning steps are not seen elsewhere in India. Artists who painted the famous Persian miniatures often depicted scenes of Kathak dancers entertaining princes.

Dance gestures in India and Southeast Asia are very much alike, for the story of the dance in Burma, Thailand, Malaya, and Indonesia is the story of the spread of Indian arts: by sea from south India, by overland routes from the north.

Well over 1000 years ago, south India's warrior kings invaded Ceylon. Later, ambitious merchants spread peacefully to Burma, taking trade and Indian modes of life. Later still they settled in Thailand, Malaya, and Indonesia. With them went Indian dancing. Indian mudras were often forgotten, but eastern Asia's supple gestures clearly reveal the dance art that originally inspired them.

We at Indian Dance School by Gauri Jog, will take you around the world to go over different forms of dancing. We believe that one should have knowledge of all dances. This way you will have choice also when selecting a particular dance type.

Click here to read about Classical Indian Dancing in India.