About Academy:

Krishna Priya Kathak Kendra, the Institute for Kathak Dance was founded in the Year 1997 by the Kathak dancer Upasana Tiwari. The aim of the school is the propagation and teaching of Kathak, the classical dance-style of northern India. To compliment the dance training, instruction in Indian classical music is also given. Courses are open for persons of all ages. Regular workshops for all levels of dancers, take place by eminent Guru and experts.

In the beginning one will learn the basic movements of Kathak. Students explore the rhythmic foot-percussion and the different sounds that a dancer produces by using his feet and ankle bells (Laddi, Tihai).

From the beginning we will be dealing with the recitation of the acoustic syllables of Kathak (Padhant). This assists the basic understanding of different technical dance compositions as well as various rhythmic cycles and beats (Tala). Teental (a rhythmic cycle of 16 beats) will be predominantly used. Apart from the verbal recitation of dance compositions we will occupy ourselves with the written notation of Nritta or pure abstract dance compositions

Various hand positions and gestures, poses and movements are shown and explained as well as simple compositions (Tukura, Thoda) and expressional elements like Gat-Bhav, Kavitta, Vandana.

Having absorbed and digested the basic material, the learnt compositions progress to become rhythmically complex. New Taals are covered (Jhaptal, Dhammar). We start to explore various movements of the wrist, learn how to integrate them in the dance (Meend, Lava, Shika, etc), practice fast pirouettes on the heel and free the subtle use of head and eye-movements.

At this level Emphasis is placed on experiencing the body-feeling and poses, relaxed and tensed, the axis of the body and breathing.

New fixed compositions taught among others are Tarana and Sargam. Advanced level students will consolidate and expand further upon the intermediates. Double spins are added. As well as knowledge and proficiency in several taal – Rupak, Jhaptal, Chartalsawari, Chautal, Dhammar, Panchamsawari, Teental, - emphasis will be laid on the expression of story-telling in Kathak style (Abhinaya). Different moods (rasa) will transport their nuances in compositions such as Thumri, Bhajan, Ghazal, etc.

Kathak students at the Academy also enter the diploma courses exams conducted by Indra Kala Sangeet Univeristy of Khairagarh (A music University), India from Praveshek Pratham to Kovidh (8 years).

Students at the academy learn Kathak, Semi Classical dancing along with various of Musical Dance Dramas with the blend of Indian classical, Innovative Western, and Sufi Music. This effort helps students to go with the flow and keep them versed with, in trend Music and Dancing.

It is our pride that hundreds of students have successfully done their Graduate and Post Graduate diploma from the academy and also have performed at National and International level.