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 Kathak
is one of the major classical dance forms
of northern India. The word kathak means
"to tell a story". It is derived
from the dance dramas of ancient India.
When the patronage shifted from the temples
to the royal court, there was a change
in the overall emphasis.
The
Kathak originated in the State of Uttar
Pradesh and Prajasthan. It was originally
performed by communities of people called
Kathakaras or story teller. Kathak is
also known as Braj Raas.
This
dance form traces its origins to the the
nomadic bards of ancient northern India,
known as Kathaks, or story tellers. These
bards, performing 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. 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.
 There
are three main gharana, or schools of
kathak. These schools are named according
to the geographical area in which they
developed. These are the Jaipur, Lucknow,
and the Benares gharanas. Each has a slight
difference in interpretation and repertoire.
The
dance usually commence after invocation
(Ganesha Vandana) to Lord Ganesha.The
dance contains the following comments:
Thata, the opening sequence, Amad which
corresponds to the Alarippu in Bharata
Natyam, Paran which is considered the
piece de resistance of the dance and finally
the Tarana which correspond to the Thilland
of Bharata Natyam.
A
notable feature of Kathak is the intricate
footwork and the highlight of the dance
is the Tahai, a spinning movement in one
spot at great speed.Both men and women
perform this dance. Music composition
is based on lyrics such as Thumri, Dadra,
Ghazal and Kavitas.
 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.
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