--- url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-au/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-kathak' title: 'What is Kathak?' author: name: rajeevk url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-au/user/4add8741a490747f' date: '2026-09-04T15:21:37+00:00' updated: '2026-10-16T23:21:21+00:00' type: website summary: 'Kathak is a classical dance from north India, built on fast spins, storytelling in the face and hands, and footwork that trades rhythms with the tabla.' tags: - 'Instruments & artforms' image: 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' published: true og: site_name: KalaSudha 'image:url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:secure_url': 'https://kalasudha.com/themes/custom/music_agency/assets/icon/logo.svg' 'image:type': image/svg+xml 'image:alt': KalaSudha --- FAQ · Instruments & artforms # What is Kathak? Updated 17 October 2026 **Kathak** is a classical dance from north India, one of the eight forms the Sangeet Natak Akademi recognises as classical. A Kathak dancer works with two tools: **chakkars**, fast spins often taken on the heel, and **abhinaya**, the storytelling carried in the face and hands. Ankle bells (ghungroo) mark the footwork, so the Kathak dancer plays as a percussionist too, trading rhythmic patterns with the [tabla](/en-au/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-tabla) in the same rhythmic cycle. Was this answer helpful? [ ](/en-au/user/login?flag_anon=faq_helpful-433&destination=/en-au/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-kathak) [ ](/en-au/user/login?flag_anon=faq_not_helpful-433&destination=/en-au/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-kathak) Thanks for your feedback! ## Related pages 5 pages mention this question ### Artists (1) - [ Alokparna Guha Kathak dancer and teacher based in Kolkata, trained under Dr Malabika Mitra across the Jaipur and Lucknow styles. Founder of PUSHPAK Academy of Dance, teaching… ](/en-au/artist/alokparna-guha) ### Events (3) - [ London Ragas: The Story and the Steps Alokparna Guha dances Kathak at our monthly London Ragas baithak in Silvertown, with vocal from Debipriya Sircar and live tabla. Sunday 11 October 2026. ](/en-au/event/london-ragas-the-story-and-the-steps) - [ Kala Festival 2026: Rhythms of Ragas & of Feet KalaSudha's third Kala Festival concert at The Bhavan, London: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty's Indian slide guitar and Ustad Akram Khan's tabla, then Kathak from… ](/en-au/event/kala-festival-2026-rhythms-of-ragas-of-feet) - [ Leicester Raga Rhythms: Kathak, Indian Slide Guitar & Tabla Duet Kathak, Indian slide guitar and a tabla duet live in Leicester: Pandit Debasis Chakroborty and Ustad Akram Khan at the Sue Townsend Theatre for Kala Festival… ](/en-au/event/leicester-raga-rhythms-kathak-indian-slide-guitar-tabla-duet) ### Discipline (1) - [ Kathak Kathak is North India's classical dance, named from the Sanskrit katha, story. The feet strike patterns against a tala, ankle bells sounding each stroke. ](/en-au/dance/kathak) [ Previous question What is gayaki ang, and who developed it? ](/en-au/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-gayaki-ang-and-who-developed-it) [ Next question What is khula baj, and how does it differ from Delhi's playing? ](/en-au/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-khula-baj-and-how-does-it-differ-from-delhis-playing)