Kathak

An open letter to Madhuri Dixit: 'Please carry forward Pandit Birju Maharaj's cultural legacy'

Madhuri Dixit, only you, have the power pull and magnetism to convince youngsters to look towards the classical arts for creative sustenance.

How Pandit Birju Maharaj always stayed alive to sights, sounds, and sentiments of the present

Birju Maharaj’s artistic oeuvre was defined by this spontaneity. Kathak is richer for the ideas he brought to it.

Pandit Birju Maharaj leaves behind the tradition and legacy of Kathak, a dance form synonymous with his name

“Who can sit for three hours now? You need to be able to make them clap every three minutes. This has ruined the beauty of the dance, the seriousness of it," Birju Maharaj said.

Pandit Birju Maharaj's filmy detours were no short of magical; Sanjay Leela Bhansali, Kamal Haasan, Alia Bhatt pay tributes

“I have two idols. You can call them guiding light of my career. Lata Mangeshkar is in hospital. Pandit Birju Maharaj is gone. I can't believe it," says Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who has collaborated with the Kathak legend for Devdas and Bajirao Mastani.

Birju Maharaj on living, breathing and dreaming Kathak: 'Art will never betray you'

"Don't do Kathak in haste. Don't go for an item [dance number]. It hurts the complete emotion of doing. Items will happen, applause will come in too; instead, go steady, let the art mature": Pandit Birju Maharaj's parting words from a 2017 exclusive interview.

Ashtanayika of Indian classical dance: On the khandita, a woman who stands up to her unfaithful lover

This series is an exploration of the ashtanayika of classical dance — the eight types of heroines which depict a woman's many thoughts and emotional states. In the last essay, part 8, a look at the khandita.

Ashtanayika of classical dance: On the kalahantarita, who battles rage and guilt upon calling her beloved unfaithful

This series is an exploration of the ashtanayika of classical dance — the eight types of heroines which depict a woman's many thoughts and emotional states. In part 6, a look at the kalahantarita.

Ashtanayika of classical dance: On the vasakasajja, a woman consumed by yearning

This series is an exploration of the ashtanayika of classical dance — the eight types of heroines which depict a woman's many thoughts and emotional states. In part 3, a look at the vasakasajja.

The Friday List: From a lecture-demonstration on kalbeliya to an unrehearsed, spontaneous play, your weekly calendar of virtual events

Every Friday, we'll bring you a curated list of online experiences — performances, talks, tours, screenings — to mark on your weekly calendar.

MeToo in the world of Kathak: Faults within guru-shishya parampara, dependence on teachers has led to culture of silence

Though it does have its positives, the guru-shishya tradition unfortunately stops us from moving towards a more progressive and open community, where constructive discussions can take place without fearing consequences.