CBSE Class 12 Kathak Dance (code 056)

Chapters: 2

1. Kathak Theory

Classical dances and gharanas · Abhinaya and rasa · Technical terms and notation

Indian Classical Dance – Indian classical dance grew from ideas written in the Natya Shastra (by Bharata, about 2,000 years old) and the Abhinaya Darpana (by Nandikeshvara). Every form mixes three parts: nritta (pure rhythm), nritya (dance with feeling) and natya (drama). Eight forms are widely recognised: Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya. Dancers express through four kinds of abhinaya (angika, vachika, aharya, sattvika) so that the audience feels one of nine rasas.
Abhinaya and Rasa in Kathak – Abhinaya means 'carrying the meaning to the audience'. The Natya Shastra names four kinds: angika (body: head, eyes, hands, feet, whole body), vachika (words, song, recitation of bols), aharya (costume, make-up, jewellery, ghungroo, stage set) and sattvika (inner feeling shown through involuntary signs such as tears, trembling, sweating or change of colour). When a dancer shows a lasting feeling (sthayi bhava), supported by causes (vibhava) and outer signs (anubhava), the audience 'tastes' an emotion called rasa. There are nine rasas: shringara (love), hasya (laughter), karuna (sorrow), raudra (anger), veera (courage), bhayanaka (fear), bibhatsa (disgust), adbhuta (wonder) and shanta (peace). Key terms: sangeet (song + instrumental music + dance together), tal (the cycle of beats, e.g. teental of 16), laya (tempo: vilambit, madhya, drut), bhramari (spins/pirouettes, chakkars), lokadharmi (natural, everyday-style presentation) and natyadharmi (stylised, theatrical presentation).

2. Kathak Practical

Performance · Evaluation

Classical Dance Technique – Good classical technique rests on five things: a stable base posture (samapada, aramandi/mandala, chauk), clear body lines (such as tribhanga), clean footwork kept in time at single, double and quadruple speed, a firm sense of tala (the beat cycle, with sam and khali), and precise hand gestures (hastas). Warm-up, eye and neck exercises, turns (chakkar, bhramari) and safe practice tie it all together.