Kathak – A complete course for beginners - Part 1

Name: Kathak – A complete course for beginners - Part 1
Rating: 4.7 (5 reviews)

Learn the basics of ancient Indian temple dance form along with its grace and spirituality

Created byMittlearn (Mittsure)

Last updated 5/2023

English

What you'll learn

The art of storytelling through abhinays and facial expressions
Move with grace and confidence while performing Kathak
Balance between the neck and hand positions
Learn different layas and mudras
The basics of Kathak postures
How to tie and carry Ghongroos

Course content

1 section • 10 lectures • 2h 38m total length

Kathak basic posture and Namaskaar15:44
In this video, you will learn about the very basics of Kathak as a dance form. The instructor will teach the elementary postures of Kathak. A step-by-step demonstration about how to enact Kathak Namashkar – the first step in every Kathak performance.
Procedure for tying Ghungross15:26
In this session, you will learn about ghungroo, specially designed ankle bells to make foot movements audible while dancing. The video provides a step-by-step demonstration of how to wear ghungroo. The instructor also explains the ghungroo quantity you should use, its quality, the right position to tie the ghungroo and the correct way to carry them.
Exercises on way of Walking16:23
You will learn about different types of Kathak walks in this session. The trainer will teach you how to walk straight, sideways and in diagonals. You will also learn different foot movements and shoulder positions for each way of walking.
Exercises on way of walking with Nagma16:05
In this session, you will revise what you have learned in the previous session about the ways of walking. You also get to practice these ways of walking with music. The instructor also demonstrates shoulder positions and foot movements with music.
Understanding of laya15:31
Laya or rhythm is an important aspect of any Indian classical dance form. In this session, you learn about laya. The instructor explains the different layas associated with the Kathak dance form.
Wrist exercises in Vilambhit laya16:52
This session is a step-by-step guide for the wrist exercises in Vilambhit laya. You will learn about the different wrist positions. The instructor demonstrates and explains every wrist position in detail.
Wrist exercises in Madhya laya16:27
In this session, before learning about wrist exercises in Madhya laya, you will get to revise the wrist exercises in Vilambhit laya. The instructor demonstrates every wrist position in Madhya laya and explains them in a comprehensive manner.
Wrist exercises with Nagma15:28
In the previous session, you had learned about wrist exercises in Vilambhit and Madhya laya. In this session, you will revise the wrist exercises of these two different layas. You will also move one step forward by practicing these wrist exercises with music.
Balancing exercises between neck and hands in Vilambhit laya15:28
In this video, you will learn the different exercises related to balancing your hands neck positions. The balancing exercises in Vilmabhit laya are taught in this session. The instructor demonstrates step-by-step and explains every step for better understanding.
Balancing exercises between neck and hands in Madhya laya15:25
In this video, you will learn the different exercises related to balancing your hands neck positions. The balancing exercises in Madhya laya are taught in this session. The instructor- Priyanka Shama- provides a step-by-step demonstration.

Requirements

The course is for beginners. No knowledge or experience is required

Description

Kathak, an Indian classical dance form is a combination of drama, dance and music. This ancient dance form is used as a storytelling tool. Learning Kathak takes a lot of practice and it is extremely important to know the basics of this art form before practicing as a professional.

Kathak includes three specific forms or gharanas or houses (families). Jaipur, Benaras and Lucknow gharanas. Each of these three gharanas carries its own unique style, Lucknow gharana depicts delicate movements, Benaras gharana is more driven towards spirituality, and Jaipur gharana has movements depicting a warrior.

However, before you jump to the technicalities of these three variations, you need to learn the basics first. Learning Kathak not only adds a new talent to your profile but it also has the power to become your passion. Kathak also helps to strengthen your body muscles. Being a complex dance form, it is always beneficial to start learning Kathak early. It takes years and years to master this art form hence, if you start learning Kathak basics as a child, it will be easier to become a professional Kathak artist by the time you are an adult. A professional Kathak dancer knows about body postures, movements and techniques.

Feeling overwhelmed? Don’t be. You can learn this dance from a professional with more than 10 years of experience through Mittsure’s Kathak for Beginner’s course.

Want to dance your way around Kathak? Join us today to learn Kathak at your convenience.

About the course

Mittsure’s Kathak for Beginners course helps you learn the basics of this skill through 30 short sessions. You can access these sessions anytime, as the course is presented in the form of videos. The run time of each video is less than 18 minutes to ensure learning is fun and less time consuming. The length of these videos does not depict the information quality. By watching each video you will be able to follow a step-by-step approach towards your Kathak journey.

This course will not make you a professional but will definitely set you on the journey by teaching you the basics.

You can also register for our online classes or opt for one-on-one sessions to clarify your doubts directly with the trainer.

Wondering what you will learn in the Mittsure’s Kathak for Beginner’s course?. Here is a sneak peek:

You will learn the basic Kathak postures, how to perform namaskaar and the procedure for tying ankle bells (ghungroos)
Learn different facial expressions, mudras, laya, abhinaya, and padsanchalan
You will learn how to walki in different ways, thaat and chakkar using 5 footsteps and heel.
You will also learn the wrist positions along with balancing the hand position with the neck position in Madhya and Vilambhit laya

Want to learn the techniques associated with the Kathak dance form and start your journey to become Kathak dancer? Join our Kathak for Beginners course today.

Happy dancing!

About the trainer

Dance has been a passion and profession for Priyanka Sharma, the trainer for Mittsure’s Kathak course. She has been associated with dancing since 2009. She believes that dance helps her to express better.

Priyanka Sharma holds a B.A (Kathak) degree from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, Delhi. She also enhanced her knowledge and skill by attending numerous workshops. She attended workshops by Padma Vibushan Kathak Mastero Birju Maharaj and Sadhana Kulkarni.

Who this course is for:

Boys, girls and adults who wish to learn Kathak or brush their Kathak skills