What is 'Kathak'? - The Photo Series
I've been studying Indian classical dance for about 10 years now but it's something that I've not really shared openly within the whole 'BROWNGIRL' community.
The first half of my journey was in Bharatanatyam (South Indian Classical Dance) and Hindustani Vocal music and the second half continues with Kathak so I've not really been practicing that long.
But I've fallen deeply in love with it and plan to improve for the rest of my life. So here's my little series on what I've learned about the various elements of Kathak so far and with the help of the brilliant photographer Jahied Ahmed, I only hope to share the love and joy of this wonderful art form with as many people as possible.
HISTORY - COSTUME Every art form has a socio-economic history and Kathak certainly had a bumpy ride. The current form is pretty recent but it originated in the courts and temples of Northern India. As 'Kathakaar's or story-tellers travelled and performed they absorbed local influences so there is one costume that is a skirt and blouse with dupatta (scarf) and one that has more Persian influences from the Mughal courts known as an 'anarkali' or 'angarkha' dress costume. The jewellery, flowers and makeup are all suited to evoke a sense of regal, dignified and special presence.
MOVEMENTS AND SPINS - SPEED AND GRACE When most people see Kathak, perhaps for the first time, they're most likely to notice the fast turns that the dancer will execute known as 'chakkars'. Now, this is where things can turn into a bit of a circus, I believe. Yes, like ballet, Kathak's spins take years of focus, practice and falling(!) to pull off effectively. They are beautiful and impressive, but that's not all that Kathak is about. Notice the details in the wrists, the flow of the fingers and the bend, twist and sway of the torso. Kathak training goes into minute command of the minor limbs, elements of posture, alignment and tension that take care and attention. They're also so idiosyncratic so that the same movement can look different on everyone!
RHYTHM - GHUNGROO AND FOOTWORK Rather than getting technical, let's get universal. We all have a beating heart and can feel the drive and pulse of rhythm, and that's what Kathak plays with so cleverly. I always say that I feel like Kathak is music in motion. It is so tied to the melody, poetry and 'taal' or time cycle that it just brings it all to life. Just like tap dance or flamenco, Kathak uses complex footwork patterns to create mathematical patterns and groovy beats. But we can't go crazy! We've got to keep balance and poise and always be accutely aware of the time cycle so that we can fit our pattern accurately within it.
EXPRESSION, GESTURE AND STORY-TELLING Perhaps the most deep and profound aspect of Kathak and Indian Classical Dance in general is 'Abhinaya' meaning, 'to lead towards'. Here the dancer depicts a story, emotion or character and draws the audience into their world. Tapping into human empathy and emotion, the dancer emotes and projects a sentiment and if they are strong and effective enough, the audience will feel and see what the dancer sees too.
I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I did writing and working with Jahied, please do check out his work!
- Seetal
