Kathak - A Dance of Elegance and Expression
Kathak is one of the 8 classical dances of India and originates from Uttar Pradesh. Kathak was originally performed in temples, on hymns praising Lord Krishna and his beloved, Radha. Eventually, as the court culture began to prevail and Rajput and Mughal rulers established rule over India, the dance form was drastically changed. Dance began to be performed in courts of kings rather than in temples. The attire change and so did the basic fundamentals of the dance.
Kathak split into three Gharanas or styles - Lucknow, Banaras and Jaipur. These three styles are the names of the cities where they originated. Every style eventually modified itself to suit the desires of the king of that area.
Dancers of the Lucknow Gharana were influenced by poise and grace, which was what the Mughal rulers in that region demanded to see. Therefore, these dancers focused on elegant hand gestures and delicate movements, brimming with opulence and grace. Facial expressions are highly important in this gharana.
Dancers of the Jaipur Gharana were influenced by the tempo and values of the Rajput rulers, who desired to see the technicalities in Kathak. This form of dance put greater emphasis on rapid footwork and multiple spins. The tempo of the performances is very fast and require great agility.
Banaras Gharana was developed by Kathak exponents in this area and stresses the significance of phrases and sounds of instruments like Tabla and Pakhawaj. There are not many spins, but when performed they are performed in a dignified manner.
Today, Kathak is being propagated around the world by prodigies like Pt. Birju Maharaj, who have taken this dance form all over the globe. Several institutes have established sophisticated exams and set syllabi that pertain to this dance form. Kathak is no longer a tradition passed down in families but rather a skill that is both learnt and taught.
Have you learnt Kathak or ever heard of it? Let me know in the comments below!
Don't forget to like, share and subscribe
Until then... signing off!
S...
Kathak split into three Gharanas or styles - Lucknow, Banaras and Jaipur. These three styles are the names of the cities where they originated. Every style eventually modified itself to suit the desires of the king of that area.
Dancers of the Lucknow Gharana were influenced by poise and grace, which was what the Mughal rulers in that region demanded to see. Therefore, these dancers focused on elegant hand gestures and delicate movements, brimming with opulence and grace. Facial expressions are highly important in this gharana.
Dancers of the Jaipur Gharana were influenced by the tempo and values of the Rajput rulers, who desired to see the technicalities in Kathak. This form of dance put greater emphasis on rapid footwork and multiple spins. The tempo of the performances is very fast and require great agility.
Banaras Gharana was developed by Kathak exponents in this area and stresses the significance of phrases and sounds of instruments like Tabla and Pakhawaj. There are not many spins, but when performed they are performed in a dignified manner.
Today, Kathak is being propagated around the world by prodigies like Pt. Birju Maharaj, who have taken this dance form all over the globe. Several institutes have established sophisticated exams and set syllabi that pertain to this dance form. Kathak is no longer a tradition passed down in families but rather a skill that is both learnt and taught.
Have you learnt Kathak or ever heard of it? Let me know in the comments below!
Don't forget to like, share and subscribe
Until then... signing off!
S...
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