Kathak is one amongst the seven classical dance forms in India. Kathak, the word itself means storytelling; it is the dance form in which the artist tells the story through song, music along with movements of hands and facial expressions. This dance form is originally created to tell mythological stories in temples, in the Northern states of India. During the 18th century kathak was practiced in the courts of Mugal emperors and rulers. It was during this time that Kathak imbibed Persian and Arabian cultures and became more sophisticated and complex. It is the only dance form which has incorporated the values and traditions of both Hindu and Muslim cultures and also uses Urdu poetry and verses in the performance.
Kathak dance mainly includes many intricate foot-works when compared to other classical dance forms. The dance also has very intricate facial expressions and gestures that can only be achieved only under strict training and practice. Since this classical dance form is complex a proper training is very important for any Kathak aspirants. There are various dance institutions that offer Kathak classes in Pune. Joining to any good kathak classes in Pune will help in learning this traditional dance form with perfection.
Gandharva Mahavidyalaya is one of the renowned institutes which offer excellent Kathak classes in Pune. Here highly experienced and expert teachers handle the classes. The Kathak classes in Pune are at par with international standards and classes are taken as different batches with only 10 students per batch. Here anyone who is above 7 years of age is eligible to join the Kathak classes.
As this dance form is complicated and complex, training should be started at an early age. Here at Gandhava Mahavidyalaya, students are given adequate training that prepares them to perform at any occasion with grace and confidence. The institute also organises concerts and programs in which students are given a chance to perform enabling them to get ready for their future ahead.
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Course Objectives
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Course Contents
Although dance is a performing art, theory is as important as practical knowledge in order to attain mastery over the form. With this purpose, there will be a written exam in addition to the practical from this exam onwards. The method used to write the notation of taals and musical compositions will be introduced in this course.
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Theory- In this exam, the student will be asked to write a history of Kathak dance in around 10-15 sentences. Definitions that are part of this year’s syllabus include aamad, toda, tukda, paran, kavitta, tihaai, ang, pratyanga, and upaanga, among others. Also, the student should know the definition of folk-dance and the names of five regional forms of folk-dance, as also names of seven classical dance forms, along with the state that they belong to. Apart from this, he/she will be asked to write briefly about eighteen hand gestures, such as kapittha, katakaamukh, suchi, chandrakala, kaangul, hansaasya, hansapaksha, etc. The student will have to study a brief biography (10 sentences) of any well-known Kathak artist. He/she is also required to know the names of five contemporary tabla players who play as accompaniment for Kathak dance performances. The student will also have to learn to write the notation of one tihaai, one simple aamad, one aamad with paran, one toda, one paran, and one kavitta in Teentaal, one-to-one and double laya, as also one tihaai, one toda, one simple aamad, and one paran in Jhaptaal, and will also have to write the theka of Dadra and Keherwa with the required symbols of the taal.
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Practical- By this level, the student should be well-versed with Teentaal, and should be able to make variations as required. Thus, he/she will be asked to perform two thaath, one rangmanch pranaam, two paran, one kavitta, one aamad with paran, four todas, two chakkardaar paran, and one chakkardaar tihaai, baant with tihaai, as also half, single, four times, eight times laya with tihaai in Teentaal. Apart from this, the student will be taught gatnikaas like mormukut, ghoonghat, and baansuri, and will have to know the hand gestures used in gatbhaav like Radha going to the river-bank to fill water, Krishna breaking the earthen pot with a stone, Radha getting angry, and so on. In this course, the student will also be introduced to Jhaptaal, with one thaath, one tihaai, one chakkardaar toda, one aamad, two todas, one paran, and tatkaar in single, double tihaai. He/she should be able to say and show all the bols through claps with the hands.