Contemporary Kathak

The resurgent form and spirit of Kathak in independent India is nothing less than a renaissance of the art form after the British demotion. It is a unique case where modern and post-modern thought has been absorbed in the stage art without disturbing its centuries-old traditional format. Tireless pursuit for innovation and individualism by contemporary masters has succeeded in brandishing Kathak as a modern classic, a true metaphor for today’s global Indianness, one which is proud of its heritage and lineage while at the same time being acutely aware of the need to constantly update, upgrade and innovate.

Perhaps it is because of this transformed persona of Kathak that it has been able to connect intimately with the youth. Although it is traditional, it is not orthodox, and that is why countless young girls and boys across the length and breadth of the country are ardent and avid students of this dance, being trained under dedicated masters. Truly then, Kathak has come a full circle. From being banished as a lowly form of stage art by the British, it has today regained its lost glory; one which best represents the innovative, inclusive, accommodative and adaptive spirit of globalised India.

Every cultural dance tradition in the world answers this question in its own unique way. Now more than ever before, Kathak, as one of the leading classical dance styles in India, is increasingly transcending international borders.  There are a wide range of intricate elements which distinguish Kathak dance: graceful hands and crisp poses, blink-of-an-eye climaxing spins and subtle gestures, virtuosic technique and intimate emotions. The origins of this dance form can be found in its name, stemming from the Sanskrit root "katha" which means "story." While some art forms mark a clear difference between audience and performer, community and artist, culture and aesthetic, traditional Kathak presentations exude an ineffable sense of fulfillment through the richness of classical technique and the imaginativeness of improvisation. An artist extraordinaire, Pandit Birju Maharaj is internationally recognized as one of the greatest living exponents of Kathak, who performs universal stories through his refreshing flashes of genius, his natural artistic intuition, and his rootedness in the Lucknow style tradition. Considered a protégée since childhood, the legendary performing artist is appreciated not only as an international dance phenomenon but also for his many contributions to the Kathak dance form.