Kathak
Kathak comes from northern India and takes its name from the Sanskrit word for story, recalling travelling storytellers called kathakars. It flourished under Mughal patronage, taking in Persian and Central Asian influences, and developed distinct schools, called gharanas, linked to cities such as Jaipur, Lucknow and Benares.
Dancers use rhythmic footwork with ankle bells, a straight torso and spins, while tabla drums follow and answer the feet within a taal, or rhythmic cycle. Pure dance (nritta) is distinguished from expressive storytelling (nritya). Kathak Kendra in New Delhi, a unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi, is a national centre for teaching it, long associated with the master Birju Maharaj.
Sources
Organisations connected with this dance
Listed as references; being listed is not an endorsement by or of the organisation.