Rhythm on the Track – Kathak Dance Workshop

For details and registration:

Introduction to Kathak Dance Techniques Workshop, led by Ms. Pratibha Sharma.

Kathak is one of India’s eight classical dance styles. Its roots lie in the tradition of traveling storytellers known as Kathakars in northern India. The style’s name derives from the Sanskrit word katha, meaning “story.”

Kathak combines Hindu temple traditions with influences from Mughal courts. It is characterized by complex, rhythmic footwork accompanied by ankle bells (ghungroo), rapid turns (chakkars), expressive hand gestures, and the art of storytelling through movement and facial expressions.

The workshop will begin with an introduction to Kathak dance and its traditions, followed by:

• Learning the fundamentals of Kathak footwork, hand movements, and turns
• Practicing the techniques learned with musical accompaniment
• Learning a short musical piece, Guru Vandana
• Learning a short dance piece combining the hand movements, footwork, and turns presented during the workshop

The workshop will conclude with an approximately 10-minute performance by Ms. Pratibha Sharma, who will perform two pieces: Invocation and Kathak Techniques.

Ms. Pratibha Sharma is an acclaimed Kathak artist of the Jaipur gharana. She trained under the guidance of Sangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient and guru Ms. Gitanjali Lal. With more than 22 years of experience, she has performed extensively around the world, including in the United Kingdom, Denmark, China, and Austria, under the auspices of the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and other organizations.

She currently teaches at the India Cultural Center at the Embassy of India in Tel Aviv, sharing her expertise through performances, lecture-demonstrations, and workshops.