Serendipity Scribilles - Culture and Living
Kathak: The Timeless Tale of Dance and Devotion Origin and Genre Kathak is an ancient Indian classical dance that originates from the traveling bards of North India known as Kathakars (storytellers). These storytellers used music, dance, and songs to communicate legendary tales. Historical Roots The roots of Kathak trace back to the 'Natya Shastra', an ancient Sanskrit Hindu text on performing arts by Bharata Muni. This text lays down the fundamentals of various dance forms, including the basic steps, bhava (expressions), and rasa (emotions). Development Kathak evolved in regions like Banaras (Varanasi), Jaipur, and Lucknow. The dance form has three main schools (gharanas) that differ in their emphasis on footwork and acting: Jaipur, Benaras, and Lucknow. Bhakti Movement Influence The Lucknow Gharana was founded by Ishwari Prasad, a devotee of the Bhakti movement. The dance form in this school focuses on the legends of Lord Krishna, emphasizing spiritual themes and devotion...