Kathak's multiple roots can be found in rural theatre, embodied rhythmic repertoire, and courtesan performance practice, and its history is inextricable from the history of empire, colonialism, and independence in India. The dance's repertoire and movement vocabulary, however, tell a different story of syncretic origins and hybrid history - it is a dance that is both Muslim and Hindu, both devotional and entertaining, and both male and female. As a global practice and one of India's cultural markers, kathak dance is often presented as heir to an ancient Hindu devotional tradition in which men called Kathakas danced and told stories in temples. Kathak, the classical dance of North India, combines virtuosic footwork and dazzling spins with subtle pantomime and soft gestures. India S Kathak Dance: Past, Present, Future Is Essential Reading For All Those Who Wish To Be Acquainted With India S Immense Cultural And Artistic Achievements. The Names And Addresses Of Recognised Dance Schools And Teachers, Both In India And Abroad, Will Prove Useful, As Will The Glossary And Bibliography. It Will, Indeed, Assist The Reader Better To Appreciate And Understand A Great Dance Style. This Book Provides Not Only Information On Technique And Training But Also Tells The Dance Lover What To Look For In A Typical Kathak Performance. The Background Of The Dance Is Explained In Detail The Religious, Social And Political Influences Over The Centuries Are Recounted Myth, Theory And Reality Are Expounded Upon Current Trends Are Described And Future Possibilities Examine And, Not Least, The Sheer Beauty Of Kathak Is Exposed To Both The Eye And The Intellect. This Book Sets Out, Therefore, To Rectify Incorrect Perceptions By Presenting Historical Facts And Placing Kathak Dance In Its Proper Cultural Context.
Kathak- The Style That Grew, Took Shape And Flourished In The Northern Regions Of The Subcontinent-Has Been Misunderstood And Misinterpreted On Account Of Ignorance And Prejudice From Various Quarters. Hence No Single Style Can Claim To Be Purer Or Older Than Any Other. All The Major Dance Styles Of The Indian Subcontinent Share A Common Root System Of Ethical And Aesthetic Values.