It’s testimony to the cultural bounty of the San Francisco Bay Area that it is home to the Chitresh Das Dance Company. Das, a child prodigy of Indian dance, founded the company in 1980 to preserve and promote Kathak dance, one of the six major classical dance forms in India. The word Kathak is derived from katha, meaning “the art of storytelling.” The form embraces a community of artists known as Kathakas whose hereditary profession is to narrate history while entertaining. With dance, music, and mime, these storytellers portray the great scriptures and epics of ancient India. Heritage joins with technology at the dance company’s Web site, where you can watch video excerpts of more than a half dozen performances, learn about Indian culture, and check out the calendar of future performances.
Visit the Chitresh Das Dance Company online: http://www.kathak.org/site/kathak/