KathakPrepared by KalaSudha

Foundation Kathak

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

Talk to an Advisor See the modules
Your path
9–12 months
மாட்யூல்கள்
1A–1C
Lessons
One-to-one or in a group
Ends in
A KalaSudha certificate
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

மேற்பார்வை

About Foundation

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.

Read the full overviewகுறைவாகக் காட்டு

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. As a typical guide, Foundation takes 9–12 months, and you agree the pace with your teacher. 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.

மாட்யூல்கள்

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.

  1. 1A

    The body, the feet and the cycle

    8 core + 4 teacher-setfrom 14 topics

    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.

    1. Space, Posture and Practice Preparationகருவம்

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

    2. Tatkar and Foot Articulationகருவம்

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

    3. Padhant and the First Cycleகருவம்

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

    4. Hastaks with the Feetகருவம்

      Coordinate four teacher-selected basic hastaks with slow tatkar.

  2. 1B

    Movement and first compositions

    8 core + 4 teacher-setfrom 14 topics

    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.

    1. Review and Coordination Resetகருவம்

      Review posture, foot placement and rhythm before extending the movement vocabulary.

    2. Tatkar in Changing Densitiesகருவம்

      Move between single and double density and introduce controlled quadruple density at an agreed base pulse.

    3. Thaat and the Opening Sequenceகருவம்

      Learn one thaat and a teacher-approved opening greeting within the cycle.

    4. Amad and Three Tukrasகருவம்

      Learn one amad and three simple tukras with their padhant.

  3. 1C

    Gat, expression and first performance

    8 core + 4 teacher-setfrom 14 topics

    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.

    1. Foundation Review and Practice Repairகருவம்

      Resolve outstanding footwork and coordination faults before portfolio presentation.

    2. A Simple Tihaiகருவம்

      Count and perform one simple tihai within the proposed principal cycle.

    3. First Gat Nikasகருவம்

      Learn one teacher-selected gat nikas with its chal and return.

    4. Music and Text for Danceகருவம்

      Study the taught song's text, reference swaras and characteristic raga phrases without requiring a sung performance.

Why Foundation

What Foundation builds

  • 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.

Lessons

Ways to learn

Questions

Questions about Foundation

Entry, pace, assessment and what you show to finish the level.

Still have questions?

Our support team can help you find the right answer.

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Foundation தொடங்கத் தயாரா?

Tell us what you want to learn and where you are today. An academy advisor will help you find a good next step.

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Intermediate

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