Kathak is an Indian classical dance form which originates from the northern parts of India. It originates from the Sanskrit word Katha or 'story' and Kathaka or 'storyteller' - 'Katha kahe so Kathak'. The storytellers were nomads travelling from village to village narrating stories largely based on epics, myths and legends, using instruments hung around them. Mime and gestures were perhaps added later on to make the storytelling more effective. These storytellers were invited to the temple courtyards to tell stories from mythology and this brought in the spiritual influence within the dance. When the Mughal era began in India, in the medieval period, these storytellers were invited to perform in the Mughal courts, which then influenced Kathak further by combining the technical postures and rhythmic mathematics of Islam with the graceful storytelling inherent in it's Hindu roots. Thus Kathak today incorporates elements of both Hindu and Muslim culture.
