---
url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-kathak'
title: 'What is Kathak?'
author:
  name: rajeevk
  url: 'https://kalasudha.com/en-int/user/0f961cccc99524ed'
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'
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---
##  [What is Kathak?

 ](/en-int/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-kathak) 

**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](/faq/instruments-artforms/what-is-a-tabla) in the same rhythmic cycle.