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A very brief (but excellent) description of Kathak
by Guest Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:30 pm
Mandrakanta Bose writes in her book 'Movement and Mimesis':
Unlike other styles Kathak does not prescribe in detail the movements it enjoys...It uses all the minor movements prescribed for the different parts of the body in the Naatya Shastra as other styles do. But unlike other styles Kathak does not have set compositions consisting of body movements which are to be rigidly followed by the dancer. In Kathak, description of dances do not identify particular constituent movements by name; rather the descriptions identify general types of movements....
A major characteristic of Kathak is that although like other forms of classical dancing it follows the same basic rules for the movements of the individual parts of the body, it expects the dancer to find his or her individual way to elaborate those movements within certain aesthetic condition given....
In Kathak the body as a whole is visualized as the prime medium of expression...For instance if the dancer wants to represent the moon not only will his hands show the ardha-chandra hasta, but his body will also bend in an arch to suggest the idea of a crescent moon...
This description gives the dancer broad, general directions rather than detailed, specific instructions...The striking feature of such a description is its lack of detail; but that is precisely the feature which makes the dance form flexible and permits the dancer to make creative choices in building an individual choreography.
Unlike other styles Kathak does not prescribe in detail the movements it enjoys...It uses all the minor movements prescribed for the different parts of the body in the Naatya Shastra as other styles do. But unlike other styles Kathak does not have set compositions consisting of body movements which are to be rigidly followed by the dancer. In Kathak, description of dances do not identify particular constituent movements by name; rather the descriptions identify general types of movements....
A major characteristic of Kathak is that although like other forms of classical dancing it follows the same basic rules for the movements of the individual parts of the body, it expects the dancer to find his or her individual way to elaborate those movements within certain aesthetic condition given....
In Kathak the body as a whole is visualized as the prime medium of expression...For instance if the dancer wants to represent the moon not only will his hands show the ardha-chandra hasta, but his body will also bend in an arch to suggest the idea of a crescent moon...
This description gives the dancer broad, general directions rather than detailed, specific instructions...The striking feature of such a description is its lack of detail; but that is precisely the feature which makes the dance form flexible and permits the dancer to make creative choices in building an individual choreography.
Guest- Guest
Re: A very brief (but excellent) description of Kathak
by Guest Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:33 pm
This is from a 6 year old post of yours truly (not giving the link to the quote because the link no longer works):
Tried searching for some material where a comparision is offerred between bharatnatyam and kathak. The primary difference seems to be that kathak involves a lot more footwork while in bharatnatyam there is more emphasis on movement of the hands. And then i stumbled across this:
Siddiqi has managed to reach out through a perfect combination of Kathak and yoga. The yogic exercises have helped her to focus in Kathak, which have taken her to a high level of mental peace not found in other forms of dance.“Yogis say that dancers are a step ahead. I have experienced that sublime level through Kathak, helped by yoga. Unlike Bharatnatyam, which is more angular like the Hindu architecture, Kathak is circular. That’s why it’s natural and in unity with the cosmos,” she explains.
Tried searching for some material where a comparision is offerred between bharatnatyam and kathak. The primary difference seems to be that kathak involves a lot more footwork while in bharatnatyam there is more emphasis on movement of the hands. And then i stumbled across this:
Siddiqi has managed to reach out through a perfect combination of Kathak and yoga. The yogic exercises have helped her to focus in Kathak, which have taken her to a high level of mental peace not found in other forms of dance.“Yogis say that dancers are a step ahead. I have experienced that sublime level through Kathak, helped by yoga. Unlike Bharatnatyam, which is more angular like the Hindu architecture, Kathak is circular. That’s why it’s natural and in unity with the cosmos,” she explains.
Guest- Guest
Re: A very brief (but excellent) description of Kathak
by Vakavaka Pakapaka Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:45 pm
Did Bharata Natyam, Kathakali & Kuchipudi come from Kathak?
Vakavaka Pakapaka- Posts : 7611
Join date : 2012-08-24
Re: A very brief (but excellent) description of Kathak
by Guest Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:47 pm
Vakavaka Pakapaka wrote:Did Bharata Natyam, Kathakali & Kuchipudi come from Kathak?
No, but they all originated from Naatya Shastra. Naatya Shastra is considered almost like a fifth Veda in some Indian traditions.
Guest- Guest
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» Synthesis: Bharatanatyam and Kathak together
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