Kathak Dance Costume Buy/Rent Online

Last Updated on July 23, 2022 by admin

Kathak Dance

Kathak Dance is a North Indian classical dance. Kathak performances represent stories from Indian mythology which includes abstract dance elements and focus on footwork set to complex rhythmic Style.

The Vaishnavite culture that swept North India in the 15th Century with the bhakti movement contributed to a whole new range of lyrics and musical forms. The Radha-Krishna theme proved immensely popular along with the works of Mirabai, Surdas, Nandadas, and Krishnadas. Ras Lila’s rise, particularly in the Braj region (Mathura in Western Uttar Pradesh), was a significant development. It combined in itself music, dance, and the narrative. Ras Lila’s dance, on the other hand, was mostly an extension of the Kathakars’ or storytellers’ basic mime and gesture, which fit well with the existing traditional dance.

Kathak is divided into three different styles known as “gharanas,” which are named after the cities where the Kathak dance tradition evolved: Jaipur, Banaras, and Lucknow. The Jaipur gharana emphasizes foot movements, whereas the Banaras and Lucknow gharanas emphasize facial expressions and graceful hand movements. The Kathak dance form is distinguished by its emphasis on rhythmic foot movements adorned with small bells (Ghungroo), and the movement harmonized to the music.Ā 

The legs and torso are generally straight, and the story is told through gestures such as arm and upper body movement, facial expressions, neck movements, eye, and brow movement, stage movements, bends, and turns. The eyes and foot movements become the primary focus of the dance. The dancer’s eyes serve as a medium for communicating the story he or she is attempting to tell. The dancer makes various facial expressions with her brows. The difference between the sub-traditions is the relative emphasis on acting versus footwork, with Lucknow style emphasizing acting and Jaipur style famous for its spectacular footwork.

Origins Of Kathak Dance

Kathak dance originates from Northern India, and ā€˜Kathakā€™ itself derives from the Sanskrit word ā€˜Kathaā€™, meaning story.

Kathakas were storytellers who traveled around India telling epic tales of gods and goddesses such as the Mahabharata to locals. Kathak dancing is an art form that pays homage to Indian history and enhances Indian culture. Kathak dance originated in the 4th century BC when sculptures of Kathak dancers were engraved in written scripts and sculptures in ancient temples.

The Kathak tradition in India dates back to 400 BCE. The Natya Shastra, attributed to sage Bharata, is the earliest surviving text with Kathak roots, and its first complete compilation is dated between 200 BCE and 200 CE, though estimates vary between 500 BCE and 500 CE.

The dancers are depicted in a vertical stance in the 2nd century BC panels discovered in Bharhut, with their arm positions already evoking today’s Kathak movements. The majority of the dancers have one arm near their ear in a “pataka hasta” position (Murda). The hasta was reduced to the bust level in subsequent years.

While there is sculptural evidence of dance in temple walls (the first temples date from the Gupta period in the 7th century AD), the postures do not resemble Kathak dance postures. Kathak is the only classical dance form that stands out for its straight legs-erect knees posture, so the bent knees pose of dance in sculptures cannot be attributed to it. This posture allows the dancer to move their feet freely in various patterns and at a high speed. Furthermore, Kathak footwork includes not only variations in speed but also the execution of complex rhythmic patterns by moving the feet in a variety of ways.

The term ‘Kathak’ has not been used to describe these dances and dancers, and the terminology used in those dances is very different from what is used today. To study the history of Kathak dance, one must trace it back to multiple sources rather than limiting it to a linear narrative. Kathak is built on the foundation of several desi (folk) dance styles, Persian dance influences, Bhakti and Sufi aesthetics, and the repertoire of the tawaifs (courtesans), as well as the Gharanedar, or hereditary families. All of these influences are discussed in depth in the related article, which focuses solely on tracing the origins of Kathak from the 18th century onward.

Kathak Dance Costume

Kathak Dance Costume

The costumes vary among Kathak dance performers, and find their sources in either Hindu or Muslim culture.

Kathak Dance Costume Requirements like any other traditional Indian dance is a combination of stunning costume, jewellery, and make-up. The Kathak costumes were initially ghaghra (long skirt), Choli (Blouse), and a veil. Gradually, it gave way to churidhar, pyjamas and angrakha. Hair, face, ear, neck, hand, wrist and ankle jewellery, typically of gold, may adorn the artist. AĀ tikaĀ or bindiĀ in the middle of forehead is common.

Kathak Dance Dresses By Sanskriti Fancy Dresses

Sanskriti Fancy DressesĀ is the supplier of costumes that are needed for almost every kind of dance event. Accessories are also supplied by us along with the costumes. You will not have to worry about the different types of dresses and matching jewellery. If you are planning to buy such stuff for a dance program then it may be expensive. Moreover, they will not be used again. Therefore, investing a huge amount of money on a costume for single-use is useless.

We will help you with all your costume-related needs and the problem of searching for theĀ jewelleryĀ andĀ costumesĀ is also resolved. We are one of the best suppliers who provide dance costumes on rent to the performers and you can also buy the costumes from.us according to your needs.Ā 

Why to Choose Sanskriti Fancy Dresses

  • We are experienced in the industry for over a decade now. With so much experience in the field, we are ready with all such items that you may need.Ā 
  • All costumes and stuff are available for any kind of dance performance.Ā 
  • Even if we run short on some items you will not have to worry because we manufacture the costumes and need only a weekā€™s time to fulfill the demands of our customers.Ā 
  • We have an in-house team of designers who are experienced in their field and ensure that the costumes fit the performer very well and they can imagine themselves as the characters.Ā 
  • The costumes are stitched with great attention to detail.
  • Dresses are cleaned after every use and hygiene is taken care of to provide the best services to the customers.
  • The quality of fabrics used by us are all great and we ensure that the best quality is used so that an extreme level of comfort is provided to the customer.Ā Kathak Dance Costume for kidsĀ is also available.Ā 
  • We deliver the costumes and accessories to your doorstep on time. We deliver the goods to national as well as international destinations.Ā 

Kathak Dance Instrument And Music

  • The musical instrument ensemble varies with each Kathak performer, ranging from two to twelve classical Indian instruments or more in versions with synthetic innovations.Ā The most common instruments associated with Kathak are tabla (a pair of hand drums that sync with the dancer’s foot rhythms), sarangi or harmonium with manjira (hand cymbals) that metres the tal (cycle), and other instruments that add effect, depth, and structure to the expressive stage of a Kathak performance.
  • Dhrupad, India’s ancient music genre, was reintroduced into Kathak for the first time by India’s senior Kathak exponent Mahamahopadhyay Dr. Pandit Puru Dadheech. He is India’s first Kathak dancer to reintroduce ‘Dhrupad’ and this composition in 28 matra to the formal Kathak stage. Shankar Pralayankar, his Dhrupad composition, has the distinction of being sung in concert by ‘Dhrupad’ maestros the Gundecha Brothers on a regular basis.

Few Facts About Kathak Dance

The Lucknow Gharana is a Kathak style founded by Ishwari Prasad, a Bhakti movement devotee. It has an unusual origin story. Lord Krishna is said to have appeared in his dreams as a resident of Handiya village in southeast Uttar Pradesh and instructed him to develop “dance as a form of worship.” He then taught the dance form to his sons, who then passed it down to their descendants.

This tradition has been passed down for more than six generations, ensuring the continuation of this illustrious legacy. By Indian literature, it became known as the Lucknow Gharana of Kathak. It was inspired by the legends of Lord Krishna and his eternal love Radha as depicted in texts such as the ā€˜Bhagavata Purana.’ Radha and Krishna’s stories were beautifully captured and depicted in folk plays known as “rasalila” performed by Kathak artists.

As the Indian freedom movement progressed in the early twentieth century, efforts were made by Indians to revive national culture and tradition, as well as rediscover India’s rich history, in order to resurrect the very essence of the nation. Kalkaprasad Maharaj was instrumental in bringing an international audience to Kathak at the turn of the twentieth century.

  • Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance.
  • The origin of Kathak is traditionally attributed to the traveling bards of ancient northern India known as Kathakars or storytellers.
  • The term Kathak is derived from the Vedic Sanskrit word Katha which means “story”, and Kathakar which means “the one who tells a story”, or “to do with stories”.
  • Wandering Kathakars communicated stories from the great epics and ancient mythology through dance, songs, and music.
  • Kathak dancers tell various stories through their hand movements and extensive footwork, their body movements, and flexibility but most importantly through their facial expressions.
  • Kathak evolved during the Bhakti movement, particularly by incorporating the childhood and stories of the Hindu god Krishna, as well as independently in the courts of north Indian kingdoms.
  • Kathak is unique in having both Hindu and Muslim gharanas and cultural elements.
  • Kathak performances include Urdu Ghazals and commonly use instruments brought during the Mughal period.

Repertoire

According to Bruno Nettl, a modern Kathak, in all three major sub-traditions known as Lucknow, Benares, and Jaipur styles (Gharana), consists of three main sections: the invocation, one pure (abstract) dance recital, and one expressive dance.

The dancer comes to the stage and pays respect to his or her guru and the musicians on stage during the invocation (Vandana). If the team is Hindu, the dancer(s) will use facial expressions and hand gestures (mudra) to invoke Hindu gods and goddesses, whereas a Muslim performance will replace the devotional expressions with a salami (salutation).

Kathak’s expressiveness can also be found in other Indian classical dances. Its origins can be traced back to the Natyashastra text, which defines drama in verse 6.10 as “that which aesthetically arouses joy in the spectator through the medium of the actor’s art of communication, which helps connect and transport the individual into a super sensual inner state of being.”

The Natya connects through abhinaya (literally, “carrying to the spectators”),Ā which is the application of body-speech-mind and scene, in which the actors communicate to the audience through song and music, according to Natyashastra. Drama, according to this ancient Sanskrit text, is an art form that engages all aspects of life in order to glorify and gift a state of joyful consciousness. According to Massey, another important ancient text that has influenced Kathak is Nandikeshvara’s Abhinaya Darpanam (second century CE).

Kathak Gharanas

The three Gharanas of Kathak are named after the cities where they flourished: Lucknow, Jaipur, and Benaras. Gharana is derived from the Hindi word ghar, which means “house.” As a result, in order for a Gharana to exist, the art form must be practised by hereditary artists from the same family or baradari. In his extensive work on musicians in North India, David Neuman (1990) identified two requirements for classifying a Gharana: first, the community should practise endogamy, i.e. marrying within their social group, and second, they must have a core family or a leader.

While Kathak dancers from Lucknow and Benaras meet these requirements, the Jaipur Gharana lacks a core leader. However, in today’s world, that doesn’t matter because both the Lucknow and Jaipur Gharanas are extremely popular and well-known. Guru Pandit Rajendra Gangani has also emerged as a very strong family leader, spearheading his hereditary style.

More About Kathak

Kathak, like all major Indian Classical Dance forms, begins with the performer invoking Hindu gods and goddesses through a series of hand gestures known as “mudras” as well as facial expressions. ā€œNrittaā€ is pure dance in which the dancer first performs a sequence involving elegant and slow movements of various body parts such as the brows, neck, and wrists, after which she adjusts her speed according to the beats of the music.

 

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