May 2013 Rotunda Dance Series: Chitresh Das Dance Company performing Malkauns Tarana (Excerpt)
Choreographed and Composed by: Pandit Chitresh Das
Performed by: Rachna Nivas, Farah Yasmeen Shaikh, Antara Bhardwaj, Cimi Ahluwalia
Malkauns is the raga (musical scale) and tarana is the melody, which, instead of having words, uses syllables derived from the language of the drum to convey the rhythm. This piece highlights intensity and vigor of the tayari (technique) and layakari (playing with rhythms) of Kathak dance, along with the khoobsurti (beauty) and nazakat (delicacy) - the four elements essential to any Kathak dancer.
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