Kathak is the major classical dance form of northern India.
The word kathak means "to tell a story". It is
derived from the dance dramas of ancient India. When the patronage
shifted from the temples to the royal court, there was a change in the overall
emphasis. The emphasis shifted from the telling of religious stories to
one of entertainment. Today, the story-telling aspect has been downgraded
and the dance is primarily an abstract exploration of rhythm and movement.
Kathak was primarily associated with an institution known as the tawaif.
This is a much misunderstood institution of female entertainers, very much like
the geisha tradition of Japan. It was a profession which
demanded the highest standards of training, intelligence, and most important,
civility. It is said that it was common for royalty to send their
children to the tawaifs for instruction in etiquette.
Unfortunately, when the British consolidated their hold over India during the
Victorian era, this great institution was branded as mere prostitution and was
outlawed. This set the artform of kathak into a downward
spiral that was not reversed until Independence when there was a reawakening in
interest in traditional Indian artforms.
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