{"id":100970,"date":"2024-04-12T12:26:25","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T06:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/?post_type=udaan&#038;p=100970"},"modified":"2024-09-18T17:43:12","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T12:13:12","slug":"kathak-classical-dance","status":"publish","type":"udaan","link":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/udaan\/kathak-classical-dance","title":{"rendered":"Kathak: Rhythmic Dance of Uttar Pradesh"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/indian-states-and-their-dance-forms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kathak<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a classical dance form characterized by <\/span><b>intricate footwork<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, graceful gestures, and storytelling through <\/span><b>rhythmic movements<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It evolved in the courts of North India, blending <\/span><b>Hindu and Islamic influences.<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Origin and Evolution of Kathak<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-100965 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/13-6618d39279821.webp\" alt=\"Kathak\" width=\"347\" height=\"368\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/13-6618d39279821.webp 637w, https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/13-6618d39279821-283x300.webp 283w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 347px) 100vw, 347px\" \/><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initially, it began as an <\/span><b>oral tradition<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where <\/span><b>Kathakars<\/b> <b>narrated stories<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> based on epics, myths, and legends.\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Later, to enhance the storytelling, mime and gestures were added.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rise of the <\/span><b>Vaishnavite cult<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/bhakti-and-sufi-movement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Bhakti movement<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> added a new range of lyrics and musical forms to it.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Raslila <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(combined elements of music, dance and narrative), primarily in the <\/span><b>Braj region<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (Western UP), provides an extension of the <\/span><b>basic mime <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and<\/span><b> gestures<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the Kathakars.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mughal Influence:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the Mughals, it gradually shifted from the <\/span><b>temple courtyard <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to the<\/span><b> royal court<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (durbar).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It became highly stylised and was viewed as a form of entertainment. It acquired its present features and developed into a dance form with a distinctive style.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There was <\/span><b>greater emphasis on nritya<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (expression) and <\/span><b>bhava<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (mood), adding <\/span><b>grace<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>expressiveness<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>sensuality <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">to the dance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Persian costumes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>styles <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of dancing also influenced it.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 19th century marked the<\/span><b> golden age of Kathak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> under the patronage of<\/span> <a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/nawab-wajid-ali-shah\/#:~:text=About%20Wajid%20Ali%20Shah%3A,1847%20to%2011%20February%201856.\"><b>Nawab Wajid Ali Shah<\/b><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Lucknow Gharana).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Course<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Performance Structure of Kathak<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>technique<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves equal <\/span><b>body weight distribution<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> along the <\/span><b>horizontal <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">and <\/span><b>vertical axis.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The basic stance involves a <\/span><b>straight posture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with one hand held higher than the head and the other extended at shoulder level. There are <\/span><b>no deflections<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or use of <\/span><b>sharp bends<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or curves of the body.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It employs a sophisticated system of <\/span><b>footwork<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, emphasising pure dance (nritta).\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Full-foot contact<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is of prime importance, where only the <\/span><b>toe<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or the ball of the <\/span><b>foot <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0are\u00a0 used, their function is limited.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are no deflections and no use of sharp bends or curves of the upper or lower part of the body.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The performance commences with &#8220;<\/span><b>Thaat<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,&#8221; introducing <\/span><b>soft gliding movements of the neck, eyebrows,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and<\/span><b> wrists<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is followed by a formal entry called &#8220;<\/span><b>Amad<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; (entry) and &#8220;<\/span><b>Salami<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&#8221; (salutation).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To recite <\/span><b>rhythmic syllables, <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the<\/span><b> dancers pause <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before executing corresponding movements.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Rhythmic Structure and Music<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>nritta <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">portion of Kathak is performed to the &#8220;<\/span><b>nagma<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.&#8221;\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Jugalbandi<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the competitive play between the <\/span><b>dancer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and the <\/span><b>drummer<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (playing the <\/span><b>pakhawaj<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mime Portions (Nritya or Abhinaya)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: These are <\/span><b>short narrative pieces<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> portraying <\/span><b>episodes from Krishna&#8217;s life<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> accompanied by <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/ustad-rashid-khan\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><b>Dhrupad <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">music<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Other numbers include <\/span><b>thumri<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><b>bhajan<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><b>Dadra<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, featuring poetic lines set to music and interpreted with gestures.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Kathak&#8217;s Unique Identity<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is the <\/span><b>only classical dance<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> form having links with <\/span><b>Muslim culture<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and is deeply rooted in <\/span><b>Hindustani or North Indian music.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Kathak<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and <\/span><b>Hindustani music<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have grown in parallel, mutually influencing each other.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Famous Proponents of Kathak: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Birju Maharaj, Lacchu Maharaj, Sitara Devi, Damayanti Joshi, etc.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.237%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 853.433%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00;\" colspan=\"2\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\">Must Read<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 36.715%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Current Affairs<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 816.718%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/editorial-analysis\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Editorial Analysis<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 36.715%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upsc Notes\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 816.718%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/blogs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Upsc Blogs\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 36.715%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/ncert-notes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">NCERT Notes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 816.718%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Free Main Answer Writing<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class=\"vc_button\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pw.live\/batches\/upsc\/pw-only-ias?utm_source=seo+upsc+batch&#038;utm_medium=seo+upsc&#038;utm_campaign=seo&#038;utm_id=upsc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Enroll now for UPSC Online Classes<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-size: 18pt;\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kathak, a symbol of <\/span><b>Uttar Pradesh&#8217;s cultural heritage,<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> reflects the synthesis of diverse cultural elements. Its <\/span><b>dynamic expression<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and rhythmic intricacies continue to enchant audiences, preserving the rich tradition and <\/span><b>legacy of North Indian classical dance.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<table style=\"width: 100.502%;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 204.512%; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #ff5e00; text-align: center;\" colspan=\"2\"><span style=\"color: #ffffff;\"><b>Related Articles\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 54.498%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/kuchipudi-dance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kuchipudi Dance<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 150.014%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/indian-states-and-their-dance-forms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">List Of Dance Forms Of Indian States<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 54.498%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/sangam-age-the-history-of-south-india\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sangam Age \u2013 Political History of South India<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 150.014%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/mains-answer-writing\/explain-the-importance-of-indian-classical-dances-in-preserving-traditions-storytelling-and-promoting-artistic-expression-15-marks-250-words-additional\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Importance Of Indian Classical Dances<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"width: 54.498%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/upsc-notes\/buddhism-and-jainism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jainism and Buddhism<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 150.014%; text-align: center; border-style: solid; border-color: #000000; background-color: #e9ebe8;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/current-affairs\/mohiniyattam-dance\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mohiniyattam: Origin History, Dance Style, And Features<\/span><\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":11,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","udaan-chapter":[5845],"udaan-subject":[4944],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan\/100970"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/udaan"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/11"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=100970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=100970"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"udaan-chapter","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-chapter?post=100970"},{"taxonomy":"udaan-subject","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pwonlyias.com\/stage\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/udaan-subject?post=100970"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}