Kathak
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Classical dance of storytellers, with fast footwork, spins and expressive storytelling. Its Lucknow and Banaras gharanas grew in Uttar Pradesh.
ClassicalWhere: Uttar Pradesh (Lucknow and Banaras gharanas); also the Jaipur gharana in RajasthanOccasion: Stage performances, music festivals and cultural events
| Performed by | Solo men and women; also group choreography |
|---|---|
| Costume | Anarkali-style long frock with churidar, or lehenga-choli with a dupatta for women; angarkha and churidar for men; ghungroo (ankle bells) with many bells |
| Music and instruments | Hindustani classical music; tabla, pakhawaj, sarangi or harmonium, with bols (rhythm syllables) recited aloud |
How it is performed
- The dancer opens with a slow, graceful entry and salutation (amad and salami or vandana).
- Pure dance (nritta) follows: thaat poses, then tatkaar, fast flat-footed footwork in which the ankle bells mark complex rhythms in time with the tabla.
- Chakkars (rapid spins on the heel) end a passage, often landing exactly on the first beat (sam) of the rhythm cycle.
- In abhinaya the dancer tells a story, often of Shri Krishna and Radha, through facial expression and hand gestures, sometimes to a thumri or bhajan.
- A jugalbandi, a playful exchange between the dancer's feet and the tabla player, often closes the performance.
Significance
Kathak takes its name from the kathakars, storytellers who recited epics. It absorbed influences from temple storytelling and from royal courts, and is one of the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi. The Lucknow gharana is known for grace and expression, the Banaras gharana for its footwork.