Right! and Devadasis were proto-australoid. How and where from - is it "obvious" to you? A good example of how NOT to air ignorance as total bliss... your own words back to you...did you forget to google ? (no new acct created, no hastily uploaded new videos! in this case).Kathak was obviously imported from Iran.......
[Thought you knew better esp. after the tangential ill-fitting *unattributed* lines quoting Amrit Srinivasan from wiki on devadasis. The same wiki is of use here! ]
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Kathak originated in north India, more specifically in Utter Pradesh, from temple dancers to the wandering minstrels in the folk tradition (kathakars), ( long before the court-influenced gharanas sprang up). The advent of the 16th century changed the form of kathak with Mughal court-influences, its import of Persian dancers and its resulting cross-contamination. The Rajput courts also lent their own influences to the art form as entertainment. However, Banaras, is even today the bastion of the original Hindu classical form of kathak.
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"It is known for its sparkling footwork, fast whirling movements and mimetic dance.
The word Kathak is derived from the name 'Kathakars' meaning ‘story’. The dancers told stories from the Ramayana, Mahabharata (Which are famous Indian Epics) and other ‘puranas’. These dancers were taught by temple priests who were well versed in dance and music.
This was prior to the advent of the Mughal dynasty in North India. With Mughal rule these performing ladies were banned from performing in temples and were made to serve in courts for entertainment. They developed a style for pure entertainment of the emperors. It said that under the patronage of Emperor Akbar the performers grew and flourished.
This dance form depicts "life" and is based on the philosophy of the trinity - creation (Brahma), preservation (Vishnu), and destruction (Mahesh). Its poses are seldom static and it has a continuous flow of movements very near to life. Equal stress is laid on intricate footwork and beauty of expression....."....more online (find it!).
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I am puzzled, I thought NS was something you already knew....!
...."Bharata talks about 'Rupa' or 'Natya' that was performed by 'Natas' or actors, mainly men who imitated various aspects of Gods and Goddesses, that portrays the ancient influence of Hindu mythology on dance and music. Also in that era, the artists of Kathak, were mostly men and performed the role of both the male and the female. These dancer artists preserved this art form along with its traditions even after the Mughal rule......"
........"In his book 'Kathak dance through Ages' Projesh Banerji states that '
"Dhrupad was not merely a mode for
music to which essentially it belongs, but
as a mode for expressive gestures which
we enter in dancing"
The dancers used to sing while they danced and religious themes were enacted through abhinaya simultaneously. Dhruvpad, Dhamaar, Bhajan. Keertan, Hori, Vandana, Pada all were sung and danced upon. This devotional dance was also given the name of 'Dhrupad Nritya'. In the words of famous Indian Kathak dancer Mrinalini Sarabhai dance was done not just to please God but to teach the right way of Living........" (more DETAILS available online at another site)