Kathaka : The Tradition - Fusion and Diffusion

Contents: Preface. Acknowledgement. Introduction. 1. Kathaka etymological meaning, origin and development of the word: does the word convey the same meaning in the present state of affairs?  2. Katha (narrative) and its tradition: a comprehensive survey of religious and secular literature. 3. Indian narrative art from the second century BCE to the mediaeval period. 4. Kathaka -- a classical dance: its gestures, posture, movements and stances. 5. Kathaka -- an indigenous Indian dance: a reconstruction of the history through the ages. Bibliography. Index.

"The book traces the history of Kathaka from ancient to the medieval period: its origin and continuous evolution in a struggle for existence through a process involving fusion, diffusion and adaptation. It studies its etymological meaning in a painstaking effort which involves a discussion on the influence of Kathakya Acarya, Sage Katha and the generic similarities between Rasalila, Hallisaka, Carcari, Rasa and present-day Kathaka. It shows that Kathaka has an ancient origin and is an indigenous Indian dance. It deals with the three distinct sections that form the present day Kathaka. Surveying a host of religious and secular literature including the Natyasastra, the Abhinaya Darpana and the Sangita Ratnakara and referring to sculptural reliefs from temples and illustrations from manuscripts including the Akbar-Nama, it undertakes a detailed and illuminating study of gestures, postures, movements and stances of Kathaka.

    An attempt to help readers gain a better insight into the Kathaka dance, the volume will interest practitioners and lovers of classical dance forms of India." (jacket)