SSC
The National Institute of Kathak Dance (Kathak Kendra) is located in:
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Answer: Option D — New Delhi
Detailed Solution
The Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance) is located in New Delhi.
About the Kathak Kendra:
- It was established in 1964 and is a constituent unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's national academy of music, dance and drama.
- It is India's premier institution for teaching and promoting Kathak dance.
- It offers training courses in Kathak dance and related music (vocal music and the pakhawaj and tabla) at various levels.
- It organises Kathak festivals and performances, and produces dance-dramas.
- Many great Kathak masters have taught at the Kendra, including Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shambhu Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj, Sundar Prasad and Kundanlal Gangani.
About Kathak:
- It is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, and it originated in north India.
- Its name comes from "katha" (story); it began with the "kathakars", storytellers who travelled and narrated stories from the epics through dance, music and mime, especially in temples.
- During the Bhakti movement, Kathak focused on the stories of Radha and Krishna.
- Under the Mughals, it developed in the royal courts and gained Persian influences.
- It is known for its fast footwork ("tatkar"), many spins ("chakkars"), rhythmic patterns played by the feet with ankle bells ("ghungroos"), and expressive storytelling ("abhinaya").
- It is the only Indian classical dance form with strong links to both Hindu and Muslim cultures.
Main gharanas (schools) of Kathak:
- Lucknow gharana: known for grace and expressive abhinaya; it flourished under Nawab Wajid Ali Shah.
- Jaipur gharana: known for fast footwork and complex rhythms.
- Banaras gharana: known for its distinct footwork and the use of the floor.
- Raigarh gharana: developed in Chhattisgarh under Raja Chakradhar Singh.
Famous Kathak dancers:
- Pandit Birju Maharaj (1938-2022): of the Lucknow gharana; Padma Vibhushan (1986).
- Sitara Devi: called the "Nritya Samragini" by Rabindranath Tagore.
- Shovana Narayan, Uma Sharma, Kumudini Lakhia and Saswati Sen.
Other institutions of the Sangeet Natak Akademi:
Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy (Imphal), Sattriya Kendra (Guwahati) and Kutiyattam Kendra (Thiruvananthapuram).
Why not the other options?
- ✗Lucknow is the home of the Lucknow gharana of Kathak.
- ✗Jaipur is the home of the Jaipur gharana of Kathak.
- ✗Varanasi is the home of the Banaras gharana of Kathak.
Quick tip
Remember: Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance) = New Delhi (1964; unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi); Kathak gharanas = Lucknow, Jaipur, Banaras, Raigarh; Birju Maharaj = Lucknow gharana.
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Indian Dance Forms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Indian Dance Forms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
Indian dance forms are one of the most frequently tested areas of static GK. This topic covers the eight classical dances recognised by the Sangeet Natak Akademi (Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Kuchipudi, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam and Sattriya), the folk and tribal dances of every state, and related terms such as mudra, abhinaya, lasya and tandava. Most questions ask which state a dance belongs to, which community performs it, or which feature identifies a classical style. Learn the classical dances with their state and one signature feature each, such as the face make-up of Kathakali or the brass plate of Kuchipudi. For folk dances, group them state by state, since exams often list three or four dances and ask for the common state. Watch for dances shared by more than one state, such as Chhau, which has three styles. Practise the Indian dance forms questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.