Classical Dances of India – Kathak
Keywords- Dances, form, Classical
Author: Riya Kashyap
Dance is an ancient and rich celebrated cultural tradition in India. Excavations, inscriptions, chronicles, genealogies of kings and artists, literary sources, sculpture and painting of different periods provide extensive evidence on dance in India. Contemporary classical dance forms have evolved out of the musical play or sangeet-nataka performed from the 12th century to the 19th century. The Indian classical dances have two basic aspects – Tandava (movement & rhythm) and Lasya (grace, bhava & rasa). The three major components are-
- Natya- This is the dramatic element of the dance.
- Nritta- This is the basic form of dance movements
- Nritya- Expressional movements also known as Mudras/ Gestures
Classical dances in India are based upon and influenced by the Natya Shastra, an ancient Indian text that is the foundation for performing arts. There are so many unique and beautiful dance forms each with a different purpose and message. There are 8 major classical dances forms in India, In this article, I have emphasized more on Kathak, following is the brief of other seven forms of dances –
1. Bharatanatyam
Most popular in South India, Bharatanatyam is the most ancient of all the classical Indian dance forms. Originating in the temples of Tamil Nadu, today it is the most popular and widely performed of all the classical Indian dance styles. Considered to be a fire-dance, the movements of the Bharatanatyam dance resemble a dancing flame. Traditionally, this dance is a solo dance form that can be performed by male or female dancers and is characterized by different features—lasya for feminine movements and tandava for the masculine aspect.
2. Kathakali
This dance form consists of a group of dancers who portray various roles with content based on Hindu mythology. This dance form originated in southwest India in Kerala. Characterized by its dramatic makeup and elaborate costumes, audiences are taken on a visual journey in this dance form. Colours are used to describe the mood and status of characters. Angry and evil characters wear red makeup, women are adorned with yellow faces, to add the dramatic effect, dancers wear large headdresses.
3. Manipuri
Considered to be one of the most meaningful of the dances, the Manipuri dance was originated in Northeast India. Purely a religious dance and its aim is a spiritual experience. This dance form is associated with rituals and traditional festivals. This dance is smooth and fluid with no sharp, jerky movements. A dance-drama, the cymbals, and drums are usually a part of this visual performance.
4. Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi was traditionally an all-male dance but is now performed by more women than men. This dance form originated in the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh but is popular all-over south India. The Kuchipudi dance form narrates a story through fluid, graceful and brisk movements that are well-controlled and bring the piece alive. This dance is based on Hindu religion, spirituality and mythology.
5. Odissi
Originating from the state of Odisha in eastern India, this dance form has its very own strong characteristic movements that clearly separate it from the other classical Indian dance forms. It is distinguished by stamping of the foot and striking sculptural poses, and the specific importance of the independent, and more contorted movement of the head, chest, and pelvis. The use of hand movements (mudras) is very important in the Odissi dance, as it represents important things that help to describe the story. Themes for this dance are generally religious and emphasize Krishna and local themes.
6. Sattriya
This dance form was introduced in the 15th century A.D by a Vaishnava saint and reformer of Assam, Sankaradeva as a medium for the propagation of the Vaishnava faith. Sattriya dance tradition is governed by strictly laid down principles in respect of hasta mudras, footwork, acharyas, music, etc. This tradition has two separate streams – the Bhaona-related repertoire starting from the Gayan-Bhayanar Nach to the Kharmanar Nach, second the dance numbers which are independent, such as Chali, Rajagharia Chali, Jhumura, Nadu Bhangi, etc.
7. Mohiniyattam
Mohiniyattam or the dance of Mohini (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) is the classical solo dance form of Kerala. This was structured into the present-day classical format by the Travancore Kings, Maharaja Kartika Tirunal and his successor Maharaja Swati Tirunal during the 18th-19th centuries. It has elements of Bharatanatyam (grace & elegance) and Kathakali (vigour) but is more erotic, lyrical, and delicate.
KATHAK
The term ‘Kathak’ has been derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Katha meaning “story” and Kathakar meaning the “one who narrates the story”(performer). This dance has been traced from northern India in Uttar Pradesh and the storytellers of that time who would recite tales to music. And this dance form is characterized by elements that tell the story of emotional facial movement with elements of mime incorporated in the movements. The main focus is foot movement. This dance is performed with ankle bells well-controlled by the dancer.
- This was primarily a temple or village performance wherein the dancers narrated stories from the ancient scriptures.
- It began evolving into a distinct mode of dance in the fifteenth and sixteenth century with the spread of the bhakti movement.
- The legends of Radha-Krishna were enacted in folk plays called Rasa Lila, which combined folk dance with the basic gestures of the kathak story-tellers.
- Under the Mughal emperors and their nobles, Kathak was performed in the court, where it acquired its present features and developed into a form of dance with a distinctive style.
- Under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh, it grew into a major art form.
- Usually a solo performance, the dancer often pauses to recite verses followed by their execution through movement.
- The focus is more on footwork; the movements are skilfully controlled and performed straight legged by dancers the wearing ankle-bells also known as Ghungroo
- Kathak is the only form of classical dance which is seeded to Hindustani or the North Indian music.
- Kathak is found in three distinct forms, called “gharanas”, named after the cities where the Kathak dance tradition evolved Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow.
- The Jaipur gharana focuses more on the foot movements, the Banaras and Lucknow gharanas focus more on facial expressions and graceful hand movements.
- Some prominent dancers include Pt. Birju Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Nahid Siddiqui, Sambhu Maharaj, Gopi Krishna etc.
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