KATHAK

A major solo style of Northern India, Kadhak has traditionally been danced by
Both men and women. This dance originated from the braj regian in Uttar Pradesh
By ‘Kadhakars’ or story tellers. With the advent of Moghals in the North, Kadhak moved from the temples to the courts or darbars of the kings. Thas this is the only dance where there is fution of Hindu and Muslim calture. The distinctive feature of Kadhak is its brilliant foot-work, and an even motion with a rapid tempo, the beauty and grace of movement is retained.

Kathak, as its name indicates was a kind of ballad singing form of art that used to aesthetically tell a story couched in music and dance. At its initial phase Kathak was basically a form of expressions art dominated by abhinaya and had deep religious association. During the medieval period it received enthusiastic patronage from the royal courts of both Mughal and Hindu rulers.

A major style of the North, Kathak unlike Bharatanatyam has traditionally being danced both by men and women. The Kathak we know today is a synthesis of two streams, the sacred and the secular.

Coming to the royal courts, kathak became gradually secular and its Nritta repertoire was much expanded. At that time different individual talents innovated intra-forms like tukdaa, gat-nikaas and gat-bhaav which found place in the traditional repertoire because by that time the art of Kathak had been transformed into a taal-pradhan classical dance form. Kathak has for centuries been a solo form like Odissi.