Kathak - The Dance of the Storytellers

FOUNDER- ISHWARI PRASAD

The Lucknow gharana of Kathak attributes its origin to Ishwari Prasad, a devotee of Lord Krishna. He developed the dance as a form of loving devotion to his beloved Lord Krishna. This from of Kathak thrived and artists moved from Delhi to Lucknow under the patronage of the Nawab of Oudh in Lucknow. It particularly emphasizes grace, elegance, and naturalness in the dance. ‘Abhinaya’ or expression plays a strong role in this style. Stalwarts of the Lucknow gharana are Birju Maharaj, Shambhu Maharaj, Lachhu Maharaj, Saswati Sen, Munna Shukla etc.