About Kathak
“The Nritya” Dance is a Visual interpretation of Music with Rhythm, time and Space in a sublime way to evoke the aspect of Devotion of embodied rendering of God that portrayed as Anang Raag ….. the prelude of Dance.
Kathak : The art of story telling by gesture, postures and deeds with music in its individual style of expansion, based on Mythological Kathas that is Kathak. Among all the Classical Dance forms in India, Kathak is well known for its subject influenced by country wide style, its expression, folk genetic flavor and consonant full format. Basically these elements make kathak versatile spontaneous and alive. From the age of origin to till the present, kathak accepted the evolution of many culture and socialization, therefore it is fragmented and embellished with a distinct sensibility and style. Every Dancer can conceive his own presentation format for Dance, so kathak converts it self with each dancer in a particular depiction of their sensuousness. The enrichment of spontaneity and current act ‘Upaj’ take off the Kathak in a higher phase. From the temple dancing art to Mughal Court and now in modern stage, literally Kathak grown day by day and land marked a distinct definition.
The Gharanas of Kathak are as follows:
Lucknow Gharana
This gharana of Kathak actually developed in the courts of the Nawab of Oudh in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. It particularly gives importance to grace, elegance and natural expressions in the dance. Abhinaya or expressional acting, especially improvised, plays a very strong role in this style, and Birju Maharaj, Shambhu Maharaj and Lachhu Maharaj were all famed for the naturalness of and innovativeness of their abhinaya.
Jaipur Gharana
Jaipur Gharana developed in the courts of the Kachchwaha kings of Jaipur in Rajasthan. The significance is placed on the more technical aspects of dance, such as complex and powerful footwork, multiple spins, and complicated compositions in different talas. There is also a greater incorporation of compositions from the Pakhawaj, such as, Parans.
Banaras Gharana
The Banaras Gharana was developed by Janakiprasad. It is characterized by the exclusive use of the Natwari or Dance bols, which are different from the tabla and the Pakhawaj bols. There are differences in the Thaat and Tatkaar, and Chakkars are kept at a minimum but are often taken from both the right- and the left-hand sides with equal confidence. There is also a greater use of the floor. Though the style developed in Varanasi, today it flourishes in Bikaner.
Raigarh Gharana
It was established by the Maharaja Chakradhar Singh in the princely state of Raigarh in Chhatisgarh in the early 20th century. The Maharaja invited many luminaries of Kathak (as well as famous percussionists) to his court, including, Kalka Prasad (the father of Acchan, Lacchu and Shambhu Maharaj) and his sons, and Pandit Jailal from Jaipur gharana. The confluence of different styles and artists created a unique environment for the development of new Kathak and tabla compositions created from various backgrounds.</>p