Kathak - UP Classical Dance

 Kathak - UP Classical Dance

Kathak (Hindi: कथक, Urdu: کتھک) is one of the eight forms of Indian classical dances, originated from northern India.
Kathak is the major classical dance form of northern India.  The word kathak means "to tell a story".  It is derived from the dance dramas of ancient India.  When the patronage shifted from the temples to the royal court, there was a change in the overall emphasis.  The emphasis shifted from the telling of religious stories to one of entertainment.  Today, the story-telling aspect has been downgraded and the dance is primarily an abstract exploration of rhythm and movement.

Performance of the Kathak Dancers

Kathak can be divided into two main parts, namely nritta and abhinaya on the one hand, and tandava and lasya on the other. The nritta portions are presented in a sequence beginning with the traditional entry, known as the amada. Through the amada, the dancer makes his entry into the stage and the invocations to the Hindu god Ganesa were changed into the salami or the court salutation.

List of Famous Kathak Classical Indian Dancers

• Sitara Devi (Kathak)
• Shovana Narayan (Kathak)
• Pandit Birju Maharaj (Kathak)