| Sounding the Body: The Relationship between Rhythm, Memory, and Movement in Kathak |
| Kathak, one of the major classical dance traditions of North India, is distinguished by its intricate rhythmic structures, improvisational vocabulary, and embodied musicality. Unlike dance forms in which music merely accompanies movement, Kathak situates rhythm within the dancer’s body, transforming sound into kinetic memory. This paper examines the relationship between rhythm, memory, and movement in Kathak, arguing that rhythmic practice (riyaz) functions as a system of embodied knowledge transmission. Drawing from performance studies, musicology, and embodied cognition theory, the study analyzes how tala, bol, tatkar, and layakari operate as mnemonic devices that shape technique, improvisation, and aesthetic experience. The paper further explores how rhythmic repetition, dialogic exchange, and oral pedagogy create a living archive of cultural memory within the dancer’s body. By positioning Kathak as a sonic-kinetic practice in which sound and movement co-constitute meaning, the study contributes to broader discussions on embodiment, performative memory, and interdisciplinary arts research. |
| Author: Dr Tripti Gupta
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Submitted on : 05-Mar-2026
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Arts : India/ Classical Dance/ Kathak |
| Journal ID : 0002-101-0327
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| Views: 6/ Downloads :0 |
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