About Kathak Dance

The most widely performed dance in North India is Kathak dance. It is traditionally a solo performance art. The word Kathak comes from the word "katha" meaning to tell a story. The Kathaka is the story teller. The roots of the dance dates back over 2000 years to Kathakas, wandering minstrels and bards, who traveled from village to village preaching and bringing to life the stories of the great Hindu scriptures, the Mahabharata and the Ramayana, as well as stories from the Puranas. It is the only dance form in the world that links Hindu and Muslim cultures. Over the centuries, Kathak made its way from the Hindu temples as a form of religious devotion and into the courts of the Moghul rulers during the medieval period. The Moghuls  were less interested in the narrative aspect of Kathak but appreciated the technical and rhythmic aspects of the dance, which became even more intricate and stylized during this period. This can be seen in the subtle movements of the dancers' necks, heads, wrists, eyebrows and breathing. A dance form needs to continually evolve to progress, Kathak Yoga is a new innovation within the tradition of Kathak dance taught to me by my Guruji, Pandit Chtiresh Das.  In order to be part of Kathak dance, any innovation needs to maintain the basic elements of Kathak; Tayari (readiness - the virtuosity of technique acquired through systematic practice), Layakari (deep understanding and versatility of rhythm and timing - the Talam system), Abhinaya (expression through gestures and mime), Khubsurti and Nazakat (beauty and delicacy - the aesthetics of the art and refinement). Kathak Yoga is a new dimension in the field of Kathak.