Dance institutions and festivals

Gharanas

In Kathak, a gharana is a school of style passed down through a family or line of teachers. The three main Kathak gharanas are:

• Lucknow: grace, delicate expression (bhav) and nazakat, developed at the court of Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
• Jaipur: strong footwork, speed and complex rhythmic compositions, including pakhawaj-based bols.
• Banaras: known for its own style of footwork and spins; associated with Janaki Prasad.

The Raigarh court in Chhattisgarh also patronised Kathak.

Institutions

• Kerala Kalamandalam (1930; now at Cheruthuruthy): founded by poet Vallathol for Kathakali, Mohiniyattam and other Kerala arts.
• Kalakshetra (1936, Chennai): founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale for Bharatanatyam and Karnatak music.
• Darpana Academy (1949, Ahmedabad): founded by Mrinalini Sarabhai.
• Uday Shankar India Culture Centre (1938, Almora).
• Kathak Kendra (New Delhi) and the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (Imphal): units of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.
• Nrityagram (near Bengaluru): a dance village founded by Protima Bedi.

Universities and departments

Many universities teach dance at degree level, for example Indira Kala Sangeet Vishwavidyalaya (Khairagarh), Rabindra Bharati University (Kolkata), the Faculty of Performing Arts of M. S. University (Vadodara) and Banaras Hindu University.

Major festivals

• Khajuraho Dance Festival (Madhya Pradesh): held against the backdrop of the Khajuraho temples.
• Konark Dance Festival (Odisha): near the Sun Temple.
• Natyanjali (Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu): offered to Lord Nataraja around Maha Shivaratri.
• Mamallapuram Dance Festival (Tamil Nadu).
• Elephanta Festival (Maharashtra) and Hampi Utsav (Karnataka).

Key points

• Kathak gharanas: Lucknow (bhav), Jaipur (layakari), Banaras.
• Kalamandalam 1930, Kalakshetra 1936, Darpana 1949.
• Khajuraho (MP), Konark (Odisha), Natyanjali (Chidambaram).

Exam tips

• Pair each institution with founder, city and form.
• For festivals, remember the monument or temple setting.