Kathak Videos of Indian Classical Dance 

Kathak Videos, Bharatnatyam Videos, Yoga, Jazz, Mexican and Flamenco

This page is devoted to sample Kathak videos from our various productions. These videos are divided into various categories simply because we just don't teach Kathak. We try to expose our students to various other forms of dancing including folk dancing, western dancing and other classical dance forms such as Bhartnatyam, Odissi and Mohiniattam. Please click in a particular category to see the videos in that category.

 Classical Kathak

Tarana
Tarana is a vocal style in Indian music that is usually sung in a fast tempo using meaningless syllables such as na, ta, re, da, odani, tanon, etc, sounds which have their roots in the Pakhawaj drum and Kathak Dance repertoire. The emphasis here is on producing rhythmic patterns using syllables. The resulting music is very appealing and most suitable for Kathak. It is perfect compliment for the intricate footwork of Kathak.

Ganesh Vandana
"Ganesh Vandana" is a prayer in dance form to invoke supreme Hindu God Lord Ganesh. Every performer of Indian Classical Dance offers prayers to some God they consider appropriate. Gauri Jog and her troupe is offering prayers to Lord Ganesha. This is based on the popular Marathi song “Sa re ga ma pa…” sung by Usha Mangeshkar.

Kathak Elements
This is another example in which girls who are learning Kathak for the past 2 to 3 years perform Tarana. Also they display various Todas, Tukadas, Paran etc.

Thumri
Thumri (Devnagari: ठुमरी, Nastaliq:ٹھمری) is a common genre of semiclassical Indian music from the North. The text is romantic and devotional in nature, and usually revolves around a girl's love for Krishna. The language is a dialect of Hindi called Braj bhasha. This style is characterized by a greater flexibility with the rag. Most commonly used rags are Pilu, Kafi, Khamaj, Tilak Kamod, Bhairavi etc. The compositions are usually set to kaherava of 8 beats, addha tal of 16 beats, dipchandi of 14 beats or jat of 16 beats. It arose in popularity during the 19th century in the Lucknow court of NaWab Wajid Ali Shah. At that time it used to be a song sung by courtesans accompanied by dance. The dance describes the onset of spring and all the joy and colors it brings. Everyone is dancing joyfully while decorating herself for the benefit of Lord Krishna. It is set to a cycle of 6 beats in Tal Dadra.

First Year Kathak
“First Year Kathak” – this video shows sample of lessons learned during first year of classes. The emphasis here is on learning basics of Indian Classical dance – taal, teen tal, basic cyles, body movements. The music is composed & sung by Gauri Jog.

Second Year

Kathak“Second Year Kathak” – this video shows the progress made by dancers who are learning Kathak for about 2 to 3 years. The dancers are taught expressions, co-ordination of hand and body movements, co-ordination with other dancers, strong and fast footwork called “Tatkars” and fast spins. The music is composed & sung by Gauri Jog.

Classical Kathak with other dances (Fusion)

Kathak with Flemenco Music

"Flemenco", the spanish musical dance and "Kathak", north Indian classical dance go very well together. Both are very melodius and rhythamic. This video demonstrates use of Flemenco music in Kathak. The flemenco music is very suitable for Kathak since both the styles give emphasis on music, footwork, expression.

Kathak Bharatnatyam

“Kathak-Bharatnatyam Jugalbandi” is a traditional Indian dance form in which two or more dancers perform different styles of dances using the same type of music. In this dance Kathak is performed by Gauri Jog and Bharatnatyam by Anuya Wagh. This dance was performed to depict the fight between Queen of Jhansi and British.

Kathak with American Ballet

We try to seamlessly integrate American Ballet with Kathak. This gives many girls from US who are learning American Ballet to learn about Kathak.

Kathak with Jazz

Jazz is a musical art form that originated in New Orleans, Louisiana, United States around the start of the 20th century. Jazz uses improvisation, blue notes, swing, call and response, polyrhythm, and syncopation. This music is a perfect compliment to performing Kathak dance. Choreographed by 11 year old, my student.

Kathak with Bharatnatyam

Jugalbandi (literally "tied together"), is an ancient Indian art form where two musicians with different instruments or styles perform together. Lately, it has been popularized to mean combining various dance forms. Here is example in which Gauri Jog is performing with another Bharatnatyam dancer.

Krishna Nee Begane Baaro

Krishnaa Nee Begane Baaro is the one of the most famous classical songs composed in the Kannada language. It was composed by Vyasaraya Tirtha in Raag Yamunaa Kalyaani and chappu Taalam. Gauri Jog is performing this dance with another Bharatnatyam dancer to show universal divinity that transcends the basic man-made barriers of religion. It is a fervent prayer in this age of hostility that begs to unify all human kind.

Kathak with Bollywood Music

Bollywood Medley

The stylistic dance movements of Kathak, though classical in origin, fit in very well with the ever-popular film music. So much so that it makes very beautiful viewing when the steps are included in the choreography of the typical foot-tapping music of the Indian cinema. One such example of this fusion is the Bollywood medley that includes three popular film songs.

Kathak with other Music

Dance of the Birds

Kathak is basically a dance form that has foundations in story telling and mime. Set to music, it translates the many moods of nature. Expressing the elements of nature in dance form is an exciting journey both for the performer and the observer. The Dance of the Birds is such and expression. The joy and freedom of expression in this piece is certainly infectious!

Dol Dol Sagar Ki Lehere

Air, water, earth, fire, and ether, these are the five elements in nature. Each has it’s own characteristics and personality that can be beautifully depicted in dance. The song, Dol Dol Saagar ki Leheren, describes the joyous rolling of the ocean waves. It depicts the beauty and tenderness of a charming day by the seaside with a balmy air, the rolling waters, and the majestic mountain scenery. This dance also includes a shloka (or verse) from the Atharva Veda describing our beautiful earth and the five elements.

Discovery of Fire

The dance, Discovery of Fire, depicts how one could have accidentally stumbled into the discovery of this magical element, "Fire" in one of the dwellings in the Paleolithic era.

Kathak with Folk Dancing

Lavaani

Each state of India has its own repertoire of folk dances. Lavni is from western state of Maharashtra in India. The word lavaani is derived from laavanya, which in Sanskrit means beauty. But this song-and-danceextravaganzaoriginatedat temples. Gods, more than men,`A0needed to be pleased with music, dance and other arts. Lavaani was used as a form of entertainment and morale booster to the tired soldiers during the 18th and 19th century Maratha battles. Many famous Marathi poets like Honaji Bala, Ramjoshi, Prabhakar, etc. contributed to the popularity of lavaani. As the nau-vari (nine-yard saree)-clad lavaani dancer tosses her head sideways and gives a naughty wink, whistles and catcalls from the male audience increase. This form shown is a Khadi Lavaani performed on stage and it involves a lot of footwork with dance or nritya playing an important role. Songs are sensuous in nature with symbolic descriptions of female body and the man-woman relationship.

Lezim

Another folk dance from Maharashtra. This dance is performed using a Lezim or a small mallet. It is a fascinating dance performed in the formation of a circle, in twos or fours. The accompanying instruments are the drums. It involves a lot of stepping, hopping, bending, squatting, etc. to the perfect timing of the strikes of the Lezim. A large group of boys and girls doing Lezim dance presents a beautiful sight while the Lezims strike rhythmically in perfect unison.

Thali Dance

This dance was originated in Orissa and Andra Pradesh and performed by "Devdasis". It involves dancing on the rim of brass or steel plate. Standing on the sharp edged rim of a large brass plate while performing Kathak to the dance rhythm demands perfect concentration, prolonged and continued practice besides physical balance. Watch these 9 year olds are performing after 2 months of practice.