About Kathak

Kathak is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dance and has its origins in northern part of India. Story tellers used to tell the stories from the epics like Ramayan, Mahabharat and Puran in temples which gradually got converted into a classical dance form, which is today known as kathak. Traditionally the stories were of Radha and Krishna, in the Natwari style but the Mughal invasion of northern India had a serious impact on the dance. Kathak is found in three distinct dance forms, called gharanas, named after the cities where the kathak dance tradition evolved - Jaipur, Banaras and Lucknow. This North Indian dance form is inseparably bound with classical Hindustani music and the rhythmic liveliness of the feet is accompanied by the tabla/Pakhawaj.