Kathak Dance & Rhythm: Taal and Paran in Motion

Paran and the Beat of Tabla

There is an overwhelming abundance of Indian classical video online, but I ran into this particular performance and decided to share it because it perfectly showcases many of the topics I am currently posting about. If you are just bumping into this page, I recently shared a post on Kathak, one of the many classical dance forms of India.

One of Kathak’s key features is the use of hand and face gestures to tell a story to the beat of the tabla, harmonium, and cymbal. The dancer’s feet keep time, accented by the hundreds of bells (ghungroo) attached to their ankles. In this video, you will also see a wonderful example of a Paran.

A Paran is a piece where the dancer matches the drum, in our case the tabla, you can hear the force that they keep time when their feet hit the dance floor. To show respect for the art, before the music even begins, the dancer often performs “Padhant,” where they recite the rhythmic syllables (bols) of the Paran with precise clarity and hand claps, proving that the rhythm lives in their voice and mind before it ever reaches their feet.

I choose this video because it shows how effortlessly the dancers recite and clap the Taal (rhythm cycle) before launching into the movement. It truly brings all these aspects together. If you want to dive deeper, I’ve written a post on Kathak dance and even created a Taal practice tool for those who want to explore the complex rhythms of Indian classical performance.

This video is video from Gurukul Studios in Dubai. The instructors name is Guru Pali Chandra.