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“ Dance does not signify more pleasure, nor  is it just a fascinating physical activity,  it awakens the soul and arouses  a sense of elevation rarely experienced otherwise…

What is dance then….if not a prayer”

ROHINI BHOTE

WHAT IS KATHAK DANCE?

“It  is a painting made of motions, gestures and expressions. It is a story told without words. It  is a rhythm played in harmony with the heartbeat.”

Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance. This dance form traces its origins to the nomadic bards of ancient northern India, known as ‘Kathakars’ or storytellers. Its form today contains traces of temple and ritual dances, and the influence of the Bhakti movement (Spiritual Movement). From the 16th century onwards it absorbed certain features of Persian dance and central Asian dance which were imported by the royal courts of the Mughal era.

The name Kathak is derived from the Sanskrit word katha meaning story, and katthaka in Sanskrit means he who tells a story, or to do with stories.

It is characterized by rhythmic footwork and rapid pirouettes, and the dramatic representation of themes from Persian and Urdu poetry alongside those of Hindu mythology. Kathak is a simple yet beautiful medium of expression. It is a very natural expression as nothing is forced. The movements, grace, rhythm, footwork, gestures and music all go in tandem. It is a form of dance which is very close to life.

 Modern Kathak has become an extremely popular art form, and a great many young dancers from India and beyond have been drawn to it both for its purely aesthetic qualities and its ability to combine abstract rhythmic elements (nritta) and expressive and narrative aspects of movement (nritya). 

THE PERFORMANCE

Kathak performances consist of two parts, Nritta and Nritya.

 The former, the so-called technical part, is an abstract dance with a tremendous sense of rhythm and joy of movement. The beauty of this part of Kathak lies in the exact rendering of the rhythmic patterns, given by the instruments, through graceful body movements and mastery of the artist's footwork.

The second part of a Kathak performance is called Nritya that means 'abhinaya', which is the explanation of story or song through facial expressions, postures of the hands and symbolic postures of the body. The Kathak style is not totally rigid however; it allows the artist to use a variety of free movements, thus leaving the interpretation of a story to the dancer's power of imagination and creativity.

The main characteristic of a Kathak performance is the immediate rapport the dancer establishes with the audience. He recites the rhythmic syllables, which he later transforms into dance. Gestures of the hands and movements of the body to portray the meaning of the song, which are being sung, support an important aspect of the 'abhinaya' or facial expressions.

 A typical performance of Kathak unfolds gradually through several stages, each stage establishing a tempo and dynamic quicker and more intense than the last. Technical virtuosity in the form of footwork is usually reserved for the very fast tempo, and dancers often enter into playful rhythmic competition with their tabla accompanists in the form of a duet (jugalbandi) where one intimates the other, trying constantly to outguess one's opponent.

TRANSFORMATIONAL QUALITIES OF THE DANCE

Kathak is a stimulus that affects the body in its entirety: spiritually, emotionally and physically.

It is a form of Yoga, a ritual of the body leading to concentration of the mind and to ultimate bliss.

The purpose of kathak is to empower the dancer to become one ́s own musician, and to fully integrate the mind, body and spirit. Creating the connection between Cosmos and oneself and getting lost in time and space.

The purpose is not you to be a dancer, is you to be The Dance.

Rhythm

The rhythmic syllables which are the base for the compositions and Sanskrit verses invoke power and blessing of divinities which creates a mood of peace and reverence. By regular practice, one can connect to the divine in oneself.

Disciplined focus on rhythm is a true challenge, but by regular practice, dance will go into trance as mind becomes transfixed with the rhythm and the flow of time. Concentration will improve. It is like powerful mental exercise that will leave mind clear, fresh and quite sharp.

Footwork and torso movements

Stamping out footwork patterns in bare foot is an incredibly grounding process connecting one to the earth while strengthening and flexing every tiny muscle in the foot.

 

Kathak footwork increases the blood flow to the soles of the feet and stimulates liver and pancreas, which helps to release anger and tension and in turn ease the spine. It also strengthens your legs and helps you to build a good corporal pose

It is a cardiovascular exercise, requires endurance and helps to improve attentiveness, blood and oxygen circulation, strengthening the lungs and the lungs capacity.

The thaat performed in this dance form includes the therapeutic torso movements and it is now used for the treatment purpose also as a form of physical exercise.

The ABHYNAYA, depicting a story using your unique facial expressions and body movements, makes you connect with your true emotions, capturing the audience through truthfulness of the sentiment that is coming out of you.

The transformational power of the dance lies in the full presence required from the dancer. Aligning body,mind and spirit. Integrating the rhythm, movement and the feeling, into a pure dance. 

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