Kathak

Syllabus: General Studies Paper 1

Context

• Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj passed away recently.

About Kathak

• The word Kathak has been derived from the word Katha which means a story.
• It is one of India’s classical dances.
• It was mostly a temple or village entertainment in which the dancers told stories from ancient scriptures.
• The Vaishnavite cult which swept North India in the 15th century and the resultant bhakti movement contributed to a whole new range of lyrics and musical forms, including Kathak.
• Radha-Krishna tales were portrayed in rasa lila folk plays, which merged folk dance with the basic gestures of kathak story-tellers.
• Kathak was performed in the court of the Mughal emperors and their nobility, where it gained its current characteristics and developed into a type of dance with a specific style.
• It became a notable art form under the patronage of Wajid Ali Shah, the last Nawab of Awadh.

About the Dance

• Typically a solo performance, the dancer frequently pauses to read verses before executing them via movement. The dance is performed by both men and women.
• Because Kathak is popular in both Hindu and Muslim populations, the costumes for this dance style are constructed in accordance with the respective cultures’ customs.
• The emphasis is on footwork, with dancers wearing ankle-bells doing straight-legged motions that are skilfully managed.
• Being the only classical dance of India having links with Muslim culture, it represents a unique synthesis of Hindu and Muslim genius in art. Further, Kathak is the only form of classical dance wedded to Hindustani or the North Indian music.

The Indian Express Link

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kathak-pandit-birju-maharaj-dies-7726966/

http://ccrtindia.gov.in/kathak.php

Question- Write a short note on classical dances of India and give out features of Kathak.