Classical Dance has been a pivotal part of our Indian Culture, which keeps us rooted in our traditional dance forms & styles. Classical Dance is one of the purest dance forms, allowing dancers to express themselves gracefully, show their devotion to the Dance, and feel connected with the Gods & Goddesses.
There are numerous dance styles in Indian Classical Dance, such as Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak, Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri, Mohiniyattam, Sattriya, and the list goes on. Every dance style has created its prominent name amongst dancers.
Out of all, Kathak has been renowned and practised for ages by the dancers. It is one of the eight principal forms of Indian Classical Dance.
In Kathak, there are various footwork patterns. And in this blog, we will walk you through the important footwork patterns to Master Tatakaar in Kathak Dance.
What is Tatkaar Dance Move?
Kathak is one of the oldest & illustrious dance forms of Indian Classical Dance, originating from Ancient Northern India. It allows dancers to tell many expressive stories & tales through their facial expressions, graceful hand & body movements, and extensive footwork. Out of all the intricate footwork, Tatkaar is a crucial element of Kathak.
Tatkaar has a Sanskrit meaning “footwork” or “foot tapping.” It is one of the first moves taught in Kathak dance training. It helps to develop dancers’ sense of rhythm, coordination, and timing to perform at various speeds.
It creates rhythmic patterns through various sound combinations produced with feet striking the floor. The primary syllables of Tatkaar are “Ta Thei Thei Tat, Aa Thei Thei Tat.” There are many Tatkaar dance variations performed by Kathak dancers, such as Vazan Tatkaar, Kadhi Tatkaar, and Heal Tatkaar.
Essential Footwork Patterns to Master Tatkaar
Footwork is a pivotal element of Kathak’s performances to enhance dance complexity and graciousness. It has been used by dancers in compositions for the creation of a rhythmic structure that adjuncts with the music to provide a strong foundation for the dancers to build their movements & expressions.
Footwork is an intricate aspect of Kathak and Tatkaar that requires extensive practice & training of years to become a master in it. In Tatkaar, footwork must accompany the music played on tabla. Dancers must use their feet to create sound combinations & rhythmic patterns corresponding to the tabla beats & rhythms.
The following are the ways to complement the footwork pattern with the music played on tabla:
- In Tatkaar, dancers must ensure that their feet produce beats matching with tabla, resulting in two rhythms (beats) that sync with each other. The dancers must maintain the correct rhythm & tabla music tempo to create a soothing musical & smooth performance that is tuneful & pleasant-sounding to the audience’s ears.
- The next thing you must implement for enhancing footwork is adding depth & complexity to tabla music. To accomplish this, dancers can use various sound combinations by striking their feet to the floor, creating delicate rhythms & patterns to make the musical experience soulful & mellifluous. You can improvise the footwork to produce rhythmic variations corresponding to music played on tabla.
- Lastly, you must create a euphonious sound through a sense of dialogue creation between your footwork & mind and the musician playing the tabla. You must respond swiftly to the tabla rhythms & beats to create yours with the feet movement by striking the floor.
It is a crucial aspect for Kathak dancers to master the Tatkaar footwork pattern, as it will broaden their instantaneous creativity. The dancers will be able to create their sense of interplay and improvise it spontaneously with the tabla beats & rhythms to add spectacular energy to their performance and ignite the audience’s excitement.
If you are looking to win a National or International Dance Competition through your Kathak dance performance, you must master all three ways we mentioned, especially the last one, which will play a massive role in helping you stand out from the rest performers and helping you win critical acclaim from the audience.
Conclusion
After reading the blog, you will have firm clarity about the Tatkaar dance move in Kathak and the important footwork patterns to master in it. To summarise, the dancers must complement the music played on the tabla in three ways mentioned in the blog:
- Maintain the correct rhythm & tabla music tempo.
- Add depth & complexity to the tabla music.
- Create a sense of dialogue created between you (the dancer) and a musician playing the tabla.
By implementing and practising all three tips, you will be a master in it and perform a mellifluous & graceful dance performance to enthral the audience. However, if you have questions, feel free to contact us.
At International India’s Groovefest (IIGF), we give Classical Dancers, including Kathakaars, a golden opportunity to showcase their dance moves & style in front of a global audience. To date, we have organised four successful seasons, helping talented dancers win critical acclaim, deserving fame & honour from an International audience.
The fifth season of the IIGF will be held in Sri Lanka on the 18th & 19th of November, 2023. You can participate through an online dance audition and follow the entry process to get shortlisted for the Finale & Grand Finale.
For any questions regarding participation or the dance competition, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via call at +91 9920720244 / 9920720488 or email at internationalgroovefest@gmail.com.
Participate and Showcase your Kathak Dance Talent this November in front of a Global Audience.
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