National Institute of Kathak Dance
(Kathak Kendra)
Formation
| 1964
|
---|
Headquarters
| Plot No 2 San Martin Marg Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-21
|
---|
Location
| |
---|
Parent organisation
| Sangeet Natak Akademi
|
---|
Website
| Official website
|
---|
National Institute of Kathak Dance
, also known as
Kathak Kendra
, is the premier dance institution for the
Indian classical dance
form of
Kathak
, and a unit of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi
, India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, situated in
New Delhi
.
[1]
Established in 1964, the institution is primarily dedicated to Kathak, though it also offers courses in
Hindustani classical music
(Vocal) and
Pakhawaj
and
Tabla
.
History
[
edit
]
The end of
princely states
in post-
independence
after 1947, brought an end of royal patronage to Kathak exponents as well as gurus. Many started teaching privately. Earlier, under the patronage of
Awadh
state,
Lachhu Maharaj
moved to Bombay, while his brother,
Shambhu Maharaj
, and his nephew moved to Delhi in 1955. Kathak Kendra was originally established as the Kathak wing of the
Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra
, in 1955, through the efforts of Nirmala Joshi, the first secretary of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi
, under the patronage of Sumitra Charat Ram, wife of industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of Shriram Group.
[2]
Here Pandit
Shambhu Maharaj
, celebrated Guru of the
Lucknow
Gharana
(school) of Kathak, was head of the department . In 1964 the institution became a part of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi
and in July 1969, the Akademi took over its functioning as well, and moved it to its new location at the nearby former
Bahawalpur
House, which also houses the
National School of Drama
. Shambhu Maharaj was a noted exponent of the
bhava
anga
(emotive part), and, in the coming years, revived several classical
thumris
and
bhajans
and added them to Kathak repertoire. He trained several students who subsequently made a name for themselves, including
Kumudini Lakhia
,
Damayanti Joshi
, Bharti Gupta, Gopi Krishna,
Maya Rao
and Sitara.
[3]
Shambhu Maharaj received the highest award of the
Sangeet Natak Akademi
, the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship
in 1967. After the death of Shambhu Maharaj in 1970, his nephew
Birju Maharaj
, who was associated with the institution from its inception, and a noted Kathak dancer and guru in his own right, became the Head of Faculty and also remained the Director of the institution for many years. Birju Maharaj started adapting the dance, which was till now staged for small gatherings in temple courtyards or
Mehfils
to one catering to large gatherings in the modern
proscenium theatre
, and created several noted ballets in his period. Gradually what was essentially a solo-dance, moved towards expression in group performances.
[4]
Over the years the repertory wing, formerly known as 'Ballet Unit' has created notable production of Kathak ballet, with evolved stage and costume design as well as elaborate music,
Taj ki Kahani
(1966) was choreographed by Krishna Kumar, and had music by Amjad Ali,
Shan-e-audh
(1968),
Kumara Sambhav
and
Dalia
all choreographed by Birju Maharaj and with music by
Dagar Brothers
.
[4]
Several of the productions, like
Govardhan Leela
,
Machan Chori
,
Phag Bhara
employed mythological themes and gave them modern presentation.
[5]
Birju Maharaj performed these ballet productions all over the world, giving the traditional dance form, worldwide recognition.
[6]
Many former students of the Kendra, also joined the repertory wing as registered staff.
[7]
The Kendra also became a venue for innovation in the form and presentation style of Kathak, merging formats from both the
Lucknow
and
Jaipur
gharana
in the coming decades. This was also the period of experimental works, which showed a progression away from the canonical motifs and themes of Kathak, like
Radha Krishna
,
Chhed Chhad
,
Gat Bhav
and
Tode Tukde
. In 1980, when Keshav Kothari was the Director at the Kendra and also Secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi,
[8]
a work title,
Parikrama
was choreographed by Birju Maharaj, in which Kathak was used to depict the natural rhythm that runs through all animate objects.
[9]
In 1982, Kathak Kendra started organising two national-level Kathak festivals annually, 'Kalka Bindadin Festival' and 'Sharad Chandrika Festival', focussing of group and solo performances respectively. This also provided a common platform of dancers from both Lucknow and Jaipur gharana to allow mingling of ideas and facilitate innovations.
[10]
After having received the
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
at the age of 28, Birju Maharaj received India's second highest civilian honour, the
Padma Vibhushan
in 1986.
Birju Maharaj retired in 1998, when retirement age was implemented at performing arts institutions as well
[6]
[11]
thereafter he started his own Kathak and Indian fine arts academy,
Kalashram
in Delhi. A few years later, another noted guru at the Kendra,
Munna Shukla
also retired, he now teaches at Bhartiya Kala Kendra and teaches in East Delhi.
[12]
In time,
Uttar Pradesh Government
, established a state
Kathak Kendra
in
Lucknow
in 1973, with
Lachhu Maharaj
, brother of Shambu Maharaj as its founding director, and
Rajasthan Government
established,
Jaipur Kathak Kendra
. Both places are known for their respective
gharanas
of Kathak.
Overview
[
edit
]
Apart from the main centre at Bahawalpur House, the Kendra also runs two additional centres in the city, one each in
North Delhi
and
South Delhi
:
The Kendra also has a Repertory Wing which performs at many places, and works towards evolving techniques of Kathak dance through experimental work.
- freeship facility for candidates
Courses
[
edit
]
- Elementary Courses
- 5-year Foundation Course - (Age Limit: 10 to 15 years)
- 3-year Diploma (Pass) Course - (Age Limit: 15 to 20 years)
- Advanced Courses
- 3-year Diploma (Hons.) Course (Age limit: 18 to 23 years)
- 2-year Post Diploma Course (Age limit: 20 to 26 years)
Notes
[
edit
]
- ^
Kothari, p. 221
- ^
Massey, p. 29
- ^
Massey, p. 157
- ^
a
b
Massey, p. 158
- ^
Rubin, Don; Chua Soo Pong; Ravi Chaturvedi (2001).
The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia
. Taylor & Francis. p. 153.
ISBN
0-415-26087-6
.
- ^
a
b
Kaui, Banotsarg-Boghaz (2002). Subodh Kapoor (ed.).
The Indian encyclopaedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific. Volume 3
. Genesis Publishing. p. 198.
ISBN
81-7755-257-0
.
- ^
Kothari, p. 152
- ^
"Kathak's own: Keshav Kothari deserves credit for taking Kathak to a new high"
.
The Hindu
. 27 October 2006. Archived from
the original
on 13 November 2007.
- ^
"Kathak, now what next?"
.
Indian Express
. 5 November 1997
. Retrieved
27 July
2010
.
[
permanent dead link
]
- ^
Shanta, p. 74
- ^
Bhattacharya, Santwana.
"Birju Maharaj retires"
. Indian Express
. Retrieved
25 March
2007
.
- ^
"Munna steps!"
.
The Hindu
. 1 July 2010
. Retrieved
22 July
2010
.
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]