‘There is something profoundly philosophical about traditional Indian dance forms. From the way one ties a ghungroo, to how they roll an eye, or even breathe on stage, everything becomes an act of transcendence; where the dancer leaves, the dance begins.’

Kathak is one of the eight major forms of Indian classical dance. Its origin is attributed to the traveling bards in ancient northern India known as Kathakar (“storyteller”), who communicated stories from the epics through dance, songs, and music. Its name derives from the Sanskrit word katha which means “story”, and kathakar which means “the one who tells a story” or “to do with stories”. ‘Katha kahe so kathak kahave’ – Kathak is the dance of story tellers.

Kathak dancers tell various stories utilizing hand movements and extensive footwork, their body movements, and flexibility, as well as their facial expressions. Kathak often has a strong beat and can be danced in many taals.