Kathak Dance and Taal Tritaal

Introduction of Kathak Dance

• Kathak is one of the nine Indian Classical Dance styles
• Kathak is a North-Indian dance form
• Kathak originated in the "Ayodhyanathdhwara" temples
• The word Kathak comes from the word "Katha" which translates to story
• Kathak is known as the art of storytelling
• Kathak has 3 schools or Gharanas: Lucknow Gharana, Jaipur Gharana, Banaras Gharana
• Some characteristics of Kathak dance are the chakris or pirouettes/turns and the tatkaar or the footwork

Introduction of Taal Tritaal

• Taal Tritaal also known as Aaditaal, Teentaal
• It has 16 Maatras
• It has 4 Khanda, each of 4 maatras
• Sam occurs on the 1st Maatra
• Kaal occurs on the 9th Maatra
• Taalis occurs on the 1st, 5th, and 13th Maatra

Theka of Tritaal

• Na Dhin Dhin Na | Na Dhin Dhin Na |
• Na Tin Tin Na | Na Dhin Dhin Na | Na
• OR
• Dha Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha Dhin Dhin Dha |
• Dha Tin Tin Ta | Ta Dhin Dhin Dha | Dha

Definitions

• Laya means speed, rhythm, or tempo
• Laya is a continuous movement in space of time
• Music and dance is like a body without bones without laya
• Maintaining constant speed in the beats of a rhythm cycle is known as Laya
• There are 3 types of Laya: Vilambit, Madhya, and Drut

Types of Laya

• Vilambit Laya: It is a very slow tempo, half of Madhya Laya
• Madhya Laya: It is neither too slow nor too fast, it has a medium tempo
• Drut Laya: It is a very fast speed, it is double of Madhya Laya

Sam

• The first beat of Taal is called "Sam"
• Aavartan starts from Sam and ends on Sam
• When the dancer finally ends the composition on Sam, it is a peak of happiness
• Each time a composition ends on Sam, it ends in a beautiful manner

Maatra

• The scale by which Laya is measured is called Maatra
• Every Taal has a set number of maatras
• Maatras are demonstrated with our hands by clapping, using our fingers or by showing kaal
• Titaal has 16 maatras (beats)

Taali

• Taali means clap
• There are certain divisions of maatras in every Taal
• The first beat of some divisions (KhanDas) is shown with a clap except for the first beat of a specific khanda which is the kaal
• Tritaal has 3 taalis in one cycle, which are on the 1st, 5th, and 13th beat

Kaal/Khaali

• The first beat of a specific khanda, shown just by the right palm, is called khaali or kaal
• Usually, the second half of a taal begins with Kaal
• Kaal is shown by the palm of the right hand and not by clapping
• Tritaal has only one Kaal in one cycle which is on 9th beat

Tihai

• Tihai is a composition, which includes a set of syllables (bols) repeated thrice
• It ends on sam
• Tihai is generally a concluding composition

Vibhag

• A Vibhag is a natural division of any taal based on its Theka
• It can be showed with a clap or waving the hand as per the measurement

Names of Present Kathak Gurus

• Pandit Birju Maharaj ji
• Guru Maneesha Sathe ji
• Guru Rajendra Gangani ji
• Guru Shama Bhate ji
• Guru Prabha Marathe ji
• Guru Uma Dogra ji

Symbols of taal-lipi

• Sama is represented by: X
• Kaal (Khaali) is represented by: O
• Maatra is represented by: numbers
• Vibhaag (Khand) is represented by: |
• Yatii is represented by: (a curved line)
• Avagraha is represented by: S

Taall Information

• Tritaal has 16 Maatras
• Tritaal has 4 Khanda, consisting of 4 maatras each
• Sam occurs on the 1st maatra
• Kaal occurs on the 9th maatra
• Taalis occurs on the 1st, 5th, and 13th maatra