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{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox organisation
|name = National Institute of Kathak Dance
(Kathak Kendra)|image =
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|formation = 1964
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|headquarters = Plot No 2 San Martin Marg Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-21
|location = India
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|parent_organisation = [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]]
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|website = [http://www.sangeetnatak.com/sna/kendra.htm Official website]
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'''National Institute of Kathak Dance''', also known as '''Kathak Kendra''', is the premier dance institution for the [[Indian classical dance]] form of [[Kathak]], and a unit of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, situated in [[New Delhi]].<ref>[[#Ko|Kothari, p. 221]]</ref> Established in 1964, the institution is primarily dedicated to Kathak, though it also offers courses in [[Hindustani classical music]] (Vocal) and [[Pakhawaj]] and [[Tabla]].

==History==
The end of [[princely state]]s in post-[[Independence of India|independence]] after 1947, brought an end of royal patronage to Kathak exponents as well as gurus. Many started teaching privately. Earlier, under the patronage of [[Awadh]] state, [[Lachhu Maharaj]] moved to Bombay, while his brother, [[Shambhu Maharaj]], and his nephew moved to Delhi in 1955. Kathak Kendra was originally established as the Kathak wing of the [[Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra]], in 1955, through the efforts of Nirmala Joshi, the first secretary of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], under the patronage of Sumitra Charat Ram, wife of industrialist, Lala Charat Ram of Shriram Group.<ref>[[#Ma|Massey, p. 29]]</ref> Here Pandit [[Shambhu Maharaj]], celebrated Guru of the [[Lucknow]] [[Gharana]] (school) of Kathak, was head of the department . In 1964 the institution became a part of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] and in July 1969, the Akademi took over its functioning as well, and moved it to its new location at the nearby former [[Bahawalpur (princely state)|Bahawalpur]] House, which also houses the [[National School of Drama]]. Shambhu Maharaj was a noted exponent of the ''[[bhava]] anga'' (emotive part), and, in the coming years, revived several classical [[thumri]]s and [[bhajan]]s and added them to Kathak repertoire. He trained several students who subsequently made a name for themselves, including [[Kumudini Lakhia]], [[Damayanti Joshi]], Bharti Gupta, Gopi Krishna, [[Maya Rao]] and Sitara.<ref>[[#Mt|Massey, p. 157]]</ref>

Shambhu Maharaj received the highest award of the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], the [[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]] in 1967. After the death of Shambhu Maharaj in 1970, his nephew [[Birju Maharaj]], who was associated with the institution from its inception, and a noted Kathak dancer and guru in his own right, became the Head of Faculty and also remained the Director of the institution for many years. Birju Maharaj started adapting the dance, which was till now staged for small gatherings in temple courtyards or ''[[Mehfil]]s'' to one catering to large gatherings in the modern [[proscenium theatre]], and created several noted ballets in his period. Gradually what was essentially a solo-dance, moved towards expression in group performances.<ref name=m>[[#Mt|Massey, p. 158]]</ref> Over the years the repertory wing, formerly known as 'Ballet Unit' has created notable production of Kathak ballet, with evolved stage and costume design as well as elaborate music, ''Taj ki Kahani'' (1966) was choreographed by Krishna Kumar, and had music by Amjad Ali, ''Shan-e-audh'' (1968), ''Kumara Sambhav'' and ''Dalia'' all choreographed by Birju Maharaj and with music by [[Aminuddin Dagar|Dagar Brothers]].<ref name=m/> Several of the productions, like ''Govardhan Leela'', ''Machan Chori'', ''Phag Bhara'' employed mythological themes and gave them modern presentation.<ref>{{cite book|last=Rubin|first=Don |author2=Chua Soo Pong |author3=Ravi Chaturvedi |title=The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=COkXM9n7KUcC&pg=PA153&dq=Kathak+Kendra&cd=23#v=onepage&q=Kathak%20Kendra&f=false|year=2001|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=0-415-26087-6|page=153}}</ref> Birju Maharaj performed these ballet productions all over the world, giving the traditional dance form, worldwide recognition.<ref name=enc/> Many former students of the Kendra, also joined the repertory wing as registered staff.<ref>[[#Ko|Kothari, p. 152]]</ref>

The Kendra also became a venue for innovation in the form and presentation style of Kathak, merging formats from both the [[Lucknow]] and [[Jaipur]] [[gharana]] in the coming decades. This was also the period of experimental works, which showed a progression away from the canonical motifs and themes of Kathak, like ''Radha Krishna'', ''Chhed Chhad'', ''Gat Bhav'' and ''Tode Tukde''. In 1980, when Keshav Kothari was the Director at the Kendra and also Secretary of Sangeet Natak Akademi,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/10/27/stories/2006102701420100.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071113061156/http://www.hindu.com/fr/2006/10/27/stories/2006102701420100.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 November 2007|work=[[The Hindu]]|title=Kathak's own: Keshav Kothari deserves credit for taking Kathak to a new high.|date=27 October 2006}}</ref> a work title, ''Parikrama'' was choreographed by Birju Maharaj, in which Kathak was used to depict the natural rhythm that runs through all animate objects.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19971105/30950873.html|title=Kathak, now what next?|date=5 November 1997|work=Indian Express|accessdate=27 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=February 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In 1982, Kathak Kendra started organising two national-level Kathak festivals annually, 'Kalka Bindadin Festival' and 'Sharad Chandrika Festival', focussing of group and solo performances respectively. This also provided a common platform of dancers from both Lucknow and Jaipur gharana to allow mingling of ideas and facilitate innovations.<ref>[[#Sa|Shanta, p. 74]]</ref> After having received the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] at the age of 28, Birju Maharaj received India's second highest civilian honour, the [[Padma Vibhushan]] in 1986.

Birju Maharaj retired in 1998, when retirement age was implemented at performing arts institutions as well <ref name=enc>{{cite book|last=Kaui|first=Banotsarg-Boghaz |editor=Subodh Kapoor|title=The Indian encyclopaedia: biographical, historical, religious, administrative, ethnological, commercial and scientific. Volume 3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bfyA327hG8EC&pg=PA915&dq=Kathak+Kendra&cd=39#v=onepage&q=Kathak%20Kendra&f=false|year=2002|publisher=Genesis Publishing|isbn=81-7755-257-0|page=198}}</ref><ref name="retires">{{cite web
| title = Birju Maharaj retires
| publisher = Indian Express
| author = Bhattacharya, Santwana
| url = http://www.expressindia.com/ie/daily/19980610/16151124.html
| accessdate = 2007-03-25}}
</ref> thereafter he started his own Kathak and Indian fine arts academy, ''Kalashram'' in Delhi. A few years later, another noted guru at the Kendra, [[Munna Shukla]] also retired, he now teaches at Bhartiya Kala Kendra and teaches in East Delhi.<ref name=hi>{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/arts/dance/article495294.ece|title=Munna steps!|date=1 July 2010|work=The Hindu|accessdate=22 July 2010}}</ref>

In time, [[Uttar Pradesh Government]], established a state ''Kathak Kendra'' in [[Lucknow]] in 1973, with [[Lachhu Maharaj]], brother of Shambu Maharaj as its founding director, and [[Rajasthan Government]] established, [[Jaipur Kathak Kendra]]. Both places are known for their respective [[gharana]]s of Kathak.

==Overview==

Apart from the main centre at Bahawalpur House, the Kendra also runs two additional centres in the city, one each in [[North Delhi]] and [[South Delhi]]:
* Kathak kendra main building, [[Chankyapuri New Delhi]]
* Kathak Centre (North), (kingsway camp )

The Kendra also has a Repertory Wing which performs at many places, and works towards evolving techniques of Kathak dance through experimental work.
** freeship facility for candidates

==Courses==
*Elementary Courses
** 5-year Foundation Course - (Age Limit: 10 to 15 years)
** 3-year Diploma (Pass) Course - (Age Limit: 15 to 20 years)
*Advanced Courses
** 3-year Diploma (Hons.) Course (Age limit: 18 to 23 years)
** 2-year Post Diploma Course (Age limit: 20 to 26 years)

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* {{cite book|last=Kothari|first=Sunil |authorlink=Sunil Kothari|title=Kathak, Indian classical dance art |year=1989|publisher=Abhinav Publications|ref=Ko}}
* {{cite book|last=Massey|first=Reginald |title=India's kathak dance, past present, future |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yFXkPk3zMeYC&pg=RA1-PA29&dq=Kathak+Kendra&cd=4#v=onepage&q=Kathak%20Kendra&f=false|year=1999|publisher=Abhinav Publications |isbn=81-7017-374-4|ref=Ma}}
* {{cite book|last=Serbjeet Singh|first=Shanta |title=Indian dance: the ultimate metaphor|year=2000|publisher=Ravi Kumar|isbn=1-878529-65-X|ref=Sa}}
* {{cite book|last=Massey|first=Reginald |title=India's dances: their history, technique, and repertoire|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Lif-Ct05aVgC&pg=PA157&dq=Kathak+Kendra&cd=11#v=onepage&q=Kathak%20Kendra&f=false|year=2004|publisher=Abhinav Publications|isbn=81-7017-434-1|ref=Mt}}

==External links==
* [http://www.sangeetnatak.com/sna/kendra.htm Kathak Kendra, Official website]

{{authority control}}

[[Category:1964 establishments in Delhi]]
[[Category:Kathak]]
[[Category:Cultural organisations based in India]]
[[Category:Dance schools in India]]
[[Category:Arts organizations established in 1964]]
[[Category:Education in Delhi]]
[[Category:Sangeet Natak Akademi]]
[[Category:Dance education in India]]

National Institute of Kathak Dance - Revision history

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