Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c11.s1.t6.9

v2.c11.s1.t6.9

**Kathak** is a type of Indian classical dance that originated from temples in north Indian states such as Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. In ancient Indian temples, Brahmin priests used to narrate the stories of gods and goddesses from various *Puranas* with the assistance of songs and dances, they were known as *kathakar* or story-tellers, hence the term of kathak for the dance. After Muslims invaded India, Kathak disappeared temporarily from the scene. Later in the 17ᵗʰ century, it was restored by Mughal emperors, and the performance site was shifted from temples to courts accordingly. Meanwhile, it absorbed some features of Persian and Central Asian dances. Consequently, the influence of the Mughal music and dance brought about great change to the form of Kathak. The current form of the dance still contains elements of both Hindu and Islamic cultures.