A Kathak dancer in a red kurta and ankle bells holds a pose with one arm extended in a bright practice room with a wooden floor and a patterned rug
Foundation Level — Kathak
Foundation Levels 1A–1C

Kathak · Kathak

Foundation Kathak

Foundation Kathak, prepared by KalaSudha: tatkar, hastaks, padhant and the cycle, first compositions, a stepped turn and a short abhinaya study.

  • 3 modules
  • 36 sujets
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What you'll master

Skills you will carry forward

  • Dance four slow cycles of tatkar with audible strikes and no uncontrolled stamping.
  • Recite four cycles of Teentaal with sam, tali and khali, without a visual prompt.
  • Hold four hastaks over slow tatkar without losing foot placement or arm line.
  • Recite and dance an amad and three tukras from memory, each arriving on sam.
  • Repeat a stepped turn four times with controlled entry, balance and ending.

À propos de ce cours

9–12 months

Foundation Kathak takes beginners from preparing their practice space to an eight-minute programme. It is the first level of the Kathak course prepared by KalaSudha, taught in live online lessons. Your teacher approves your space, floor and footwear and the area you need to travel in, so you can practise at home.

Module 1A builds clear tatkar, the footwork, with deliberate weight transfer. You recite the tatkar in padhant and clap the suggested Teentaal. You then coordinate four hastaks with the feet and show a first feeling through gaze and gesture. Module 1B adds density changes, a thaat, an opening greeting, an amad, three tukras, a stepped turn and reading and writing bols.

Module 1C brings a simple tihai, a gat nikas, the stylised walk, and a two-minute abhinaya study, the expressive dance. You learn the text and music of a song without needing to sing, and watch two contrasting Kathak examples. See the Kathak discipline page for the art form.

Each module has 14 topics, eight core and six electives, and your path is 12 of them. In a cohort, you dance the module rehearsal for fellow learners, and an elective has you dance a short sequence in unison with a peer. Foundation ends with an eight-minute programme with two minutes of expression and leads to a KalaSudha award (see certificates). Ask about Foundation in the Academy.

Your learning journey

The three Foundation modules

Foundation starts with the body and the feet, then first compositions, then expression and a first programme. Each module ends with a guided review and a presentation your teacher assesses.

  • Module 1A: the body, the feet and the cycle

    Prepare your space with an approved warm-up and alignment. Build clear tatkar, recite it in padhant and clap the suggested Teentaal. Then coordinate four hastaks with slow tatkar, show a first feeling through gaze and gesture, and find sam in a lehra.

  • Module 1B: movement and first compositions

    Move between single, double and quadruple density at an agreed base pulse. Learn a thaat, a salami or rangmanch pranam and an amad. Add three tukras with padhant and a stepped turn, and read and write bols.

  • Module 1C: gat, expression and first performance

    Count and dance a simple tihai, learn a gat nikas and study a song's text and music. Develop a two-minute abhinaya study and watch two contrasting Kathak examples. Then present an eight-minute programme with two minutes of expression.

Your learning journey

Curriculum

36 sujets

Sthayi 1A · The Body, the Feet and the Cycle

14 sujets disponibles ; 12 dans votre parcours.

Sujets fondamentaux Chaque élève suit ces 8

  1. Sujet 01

    Space, Posture and Practice Preparation

    Prepare the practice space and establish a teacher-approved standing alignment and warm-up.

    Ready to move on when: Show the approved preparation, name two space checks and maintain alignment through a short movement sequence.

  2. Sujet 02

    Tatkar and Foot Articulation

    Produce clear foot strikes through the first teacher-selected tatkar pattern.

    Ready to move on when: Dance four slow cycles with deliberate weight transfer, audible strikes and no uncontrolled stamping.

  3. Sujet 03

    Padhant and the First Cycle

    Recite the tatkar and clap proposed Teentaal with sam, tali and khali.

    Ready to move on when: Recite four cycles and demonstrate the sixteen matras, divisions and sam without following a visual prompt.

  4. Sujet 04

    Hastaks with the Feet

    Coordinate four teacher-selected basic hastaks with slow tatkar.

    Ready to move on when: Maintain each hastak through one cycle without losing foot placement or the agreed arm line.

  5. Sujet 05

    Gaze, Gesture and a First Feeling

    Communicate a simple situation through coordinated gaze, hands and facial expression.

    Ready to move on when: Show two contrasting intentions in the same gesture and explain the difference a viewer should see.

  6. Sujet 06

    Hearing the Lehra and Reference Pitch

    Locate the accompaniment's cycle and tonic while distinguishing pitch height from rhythmic speed.

    Ready to move on when: Identify sam in four cycles and distinguish a higher or lower reference note on four of five trials.

  7. Sujet 07

    Guided Movement and Sound Review

    Record and correct a posture fault and a foot-articulation fault.

    Ready to move on when: Show before-and-after clips with the correction sustained through four cycles.

  8. Sujet 08

    Module 1A Presentation

    Present basic footwork, coordinated movement and a short expressive response.

    Ready to move on when: Meet C1-C6 criteria in a continuous presentation and identify one practice priority.

Sujets au choix Votre professeur remplit 4 places libres avec ces sujets au choix, ses propres sujets ou les deux.

  • Au choix

    Ghungroo Fitting and Sound

    Practise ghungroo fitting and sound through a bounded teacher-supplied study.

    Ready to move on when: Demonstrate the teacher-approved tying method and explain when the fit needs adjustment.

  • Au choix

    Hand and Gaze Coordination

    Practise hand and gaze coordination through a bounded teacher-supplied study.

    Ready to move on when: Repeat four hand-gaze phrases without losing the agreed movement line.

  • Au choix

    Recitation Memory

    Practise recitation memory through a bounded teacher-supplied study.

    Ready to move on when: Recite three short patterns and reproduce them after a delay.

  • Au choix

    Movement Through Space

    Practise movement through space through a bounded teacher-supplied study.

    Ready to move on when: Travel a slow phrase in four directions and return to the starting point on sam.

  • Au choix

    Gesture and Everyday Narrative

    Practise gesture and everyday narrative through a bounded teacher-supplied study.

    Ready to move on when: Communicate a short everyday event through three connected gestures.

  • Au choix

    Practice Video Clinic

    Practise practice video clinic through a bounded teacher-supplied study.

    Ready to move on when: Set a full-body camera view and identify two useful corrections in a recording.

Foundation pathway

How this level progresses

3 structured modules, taken in order.

Modules are taken in sequence

  1. Level 1A

    Sthayi 1A · The Body, the Feet and the Cycle

    Sujets
    12 topics
    Activities
    56 activities

  2. Level 1B

    Sthayi 1B · Movement and First Compositions

    Sujets
    12 topics
    Activities
    56 activities

  3. Level 1C

    Sthayi 1C · Gat, Expression and First Performance

    Sujets
    12 topics
    Activities
    56 activities

Inside Foundation

  • Footwork you can hear

    Tatkar starts slow, with deliberate weight transfer. Your teacher listens for clear strikes and watches for uncontrolled stamping.

  • Turns without dizziness

    Learn one stepped turn with coordinated head use and a stable exit. The course asks for control, not a number of consecutive spins.

  • A first story

    Show two intentions with one gesture, then build a two-minute abhinaya study with gaze, gesture and changes of intention.

Before you begin

  • You need no previous dance or music experience to begin Foundation Kathak.
  • You need practice wear, a space your teacher approves and a full-body camera view with your feet audible.

Frequently asked questions

How do I learn to recite bols and padhant in Kathak?

Kathak padhant is the spoken recitation of bols, the rhythmic syllables, and Foundation teaches it from the first module. You recite the tatkar while clapping Teentaal, then recite each composition before you dance it.

Module 1B shows you how to read and write bols with matras and divisions, so you can recite an unfamiliar four-matra phrase from notation.

What do I need to start Kathak classes, such as ghungroo and clothing?

To start Foundation Kathak you need practice wear, a space your teacher approves and a camera set up to show your whole body with your feet audible. Your teacher decides on footwear or barefoot practice.

Ghungroo come in when your teacher introduces them, with a tying method and fit they approve. The course sets no fixed number of bells.

How do I learn chakkars in Kathak without getting dizzy?

Chakkars, Kathak turns, start at Foundation with one stepped turn your teacher approves, using coordinated head use and a stable exit. You repeat it four times with a controlled entry, balance and ending.

The course asks for control rather than consecutive spins, and your teacher sets the turn progression for your level.

How is the Foundation level of the Kathak course assessed?

The Foundation level of the Kathak course ends with eight continuous minutes of dance, including at least two minutes of expression. Your teacher adds practical, aural and oral checks with a notation task.

Responsiveness is tested separately in four cue-response exchanges with a live partner: a teacher, an accompanist or a prepared performer. Each clause is marked met or not yet met.

Have more questions? Contact our support team and we'll be happy to help!

Étapes suivantes

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