India
(from left)
- Kathak Dancers in a group dance
-Saswati Sen, an eminent Kathak solo dancer
(c) Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi.
Kathak Dance is a classical dance which is mainly prevalent in Northern India. It is considered that the dance has its origin from the temples.
In North, East, West and up to Central India.
Music, Dance
The Kathak Dance is considered as a classical form of Indian dances. As other dances, this dance form was also born in temples but later flourished in Mughal courts. The name Kathak is derived from the community of Kathak the story-tellers. The class of story-tellers have been in existence in Bengal since early times. The present form of Kathak dance seems to have carried the imprint of both the temple and court. The tales of Krishna and Radha in Kathak Dance survive more as symbols of love than of worshipping deities.
In India, there are three main gharana of Kathak namely Jaipur, Lucknow and Banaras. The dance is performed in a typical style of the particular gharana. The music accompaniment for dance is given by a vocal singer and musical instruments tabla, pakhwaj, sarangi, flute, sitar. ghungroos (bells)worn around the ankles play an important role in Kathak Dance.
N/A
No audio cassette has been produced on Kathak Dance, but a lot of audio recording on tape are available in Akademi.
No video programme has been produced by Akademi, but a lot of photographs, slides and video recordings and silent film material is available in Akademi.
Sangeet Natak Akademi, Rabindra Bhawan, New Delhi.
Mr. Sharbari Mukherjee
Secretary
Sangeet Natak Akademi
Address: Rabindra Bhawan, Ferozeshah Road, New Delhi - 110001, India