Kathak
Kathak
The word Kathak originates from the root word Katha. In Sanskrit, the word Katha has been used in many different contexts, both as a noun and a verb, depending on the intended meaning. The origin of the 2000-year-old Kathak dance can be traced by using the etymological and comparative linguistics methods through which a prominent picture of Kathak’s antiquity and how it was regarded in the earlier periods of history can be deciphered. In the dictionary of the Pali language, the liturgical Prakrit language of Theravada Buddhism, the word Kathako means a ‘discourse” or sermon. In ancient texts of the Prakrit language, the word Kathak is explicitly used to describe the dancers.
The technique is built by the use of an intricate system of footwork. Pure dance (nritta) is all-important, where complex rhythmic patterns are created through the use of flat feet and the control of the sound of the ankle bells worn by the dancer. As in Bharatnatyam, Odissi, and Manipuri, Kathak also builds its pure dance sequences by combining units of movement. The cadences are called differently by the names tukra, tora, and Parana, all indicative of the nature of the rhythmic patterns used and the percussion instrument accompanying the dance. The pirouettes are the most characteristic feature of the dance style in Nritta portions. Recitation of the rhythmic syllables is common; the dancer often pauses to recite these to a specified metrical cycle followed by execution through movement. The nritta portion of Kathak is performed to the nagma.In the mime portions (nritya or abhinaya), words are not used in simple numbers called the gata, which is performed in a lyrical manner to a gentle rhythm. These are short narrative pieces that portray a brief episode from Krishna’s life. A poetic line set to music is interpreted with gestures in other numbers, such as the thumri, bhajan, and Dadra – all lyrical, musical compositions.
