kathak dance :: essays research papers

Kathak is the classical dance of coupling indian style that was characterized by rhythmic footwork danced under(a) the weight of much than 100 ankle bells, spectacular spins, and a re marchation of themes from Persian and Urdu verse alongside those of Hindu mythology. The word kathak means "to tell a boloney". It is derived from the dance dramas of ancient India. Kathak arose from the fusion of Hindu and Muslim cultures that took place during the Mughal period. to a greater extent than any other South Asian dance form, kathak expresses the aesthetic principles of Islamic culture.      The origins of the kathak style lies in the traditionalistic unfolding of Hindu myths by brahman priests called kathiks, who used mime and gesture for dramatic effect. Gradually, the storytelling became more stylized and genuine into a dance form. With the arrival in northern India of the Mughals, kathak was taken into the gallant courts and developed into a sophist icated art form through the business organization of the Mughal rulers, kathak took its current form. The ferocity of the dance moved from the religious to the aesthetics. In cooperation with the aesthetics of Islamic culture, abhinaya which is defined as the use of mime and gesture, became more delicate, with emphasis placed on the performers ability to express a theme in many different ways.     There are two main centers of nurture called gharanas, which are both named after cities in northern India and which expanded under the patronage of regional princes. The Lucknow gharana developed a style of kathak that is characterized by precise, alright detailed movements and an emphasis on the exposition of thumri, (which is a semiclassical style of sock song). The Jaipur gharana required a mastery of complicated pure dance patterns. Nowadays, performers present a blend of kathak based on the styles of both gharanas.A traditional kathak performance features a solo dancer on a stage, ring on all sides by the audience.