Speaking Sculptures: Karanas in Kathak (Hardcover)

In Kathak, karanas refer to codified movement units that combine stance, footwork, torso movement, and expressive gestures into a single flowing phrase. Rooted in the ancient Nāṭyaśāstra, where 108 karanas are described as foundational dance movements, Kathak absorbed and reinterpreted these principles through its own aesthetic over centuries. Unlike Bharatanatyam or Odissi, where karanas are often presented as clearly defined sculptural units, Kathak integrates them more fluidly. Here, karanas appear as dynamic transitions—linking tat te thai footwork, swift chakkars (spins), and subtle torso shifts. The emphasis is less on static poses and more on continuity, rhythm, and grace. Kathak karanas are deeply tied to laya (tempo) and tala (rhythmic cycle). A single karana may unfold across several beats, allowing the dancer to play with acceleration, pauses, and rhythmic improvisation. The upright posture, controlled neck and eye movements, and intricate foot patterns reflect Kathak’s courtly refinement. Through abhinaya, karanas also gain expressive depth—suggesting moods, characters, or narrative moments without overt dramatization. Thus, in Kathak, karanas are not merely technical units but living expressions of rhythm, poetry, and refined movement, bridging ancient theory with the vibrant performance tradition of North India. Shovana Narayan (Padmashri & SNA awardee, Kathak Guru and IAAS retd) With a career spanning seven decades, Shovana Narayan is an acclaimed Kathak performer, Guru and choreographer. For her soul stirring performances, she has been decorated by the Government of India with the Padmashri award in 1992, central Sangeet Natak Akademi award in 2001, Delhi Govt’s Parishad Samman in 1992 and Bihar Govt’s Rashtriya Samman in 2021 besides being a recipient of over 45 national and international awards. Maintaining the classicality of her art, Shovana is a silent activist constantly pushing its frontiers to contemporarization of themes and newer expressions. She is acknowledged as a classical example of a true Kathak, multi-faceted and dynamic, presenting a challenge to today’s spectator. Her life, her works, her dignity and demeanour have made her a role model and peer for millions of girls of the younger generation of today. Shovana pioneered the trend of relentlessly pursuing two parallel exacting professional careers, achieving distinction and great heights in both: one, as India’s most eminent and venerated Kathak Guru-performer-choreographer and the other as a career bureaucrat (Indian Audit and Accounts, 1976 batch) till her retirement. An MSc in Physics and holding 2 MPhil degrees and a Doctor of Letters (HC), she is a keen educationist and a research scholar who has served/ is serving on various Governing Bodies of prestigious academic institutions. She has authored 17 books, several research papers and articles. While two of her books are due for release, she is already working on her next book.