Gharana

The word gharana literally means 'school', and refers to a particular style or variation of a dance form, in this case North Indian Kathak.

Major Gharanas

• Jaipur gharana
• Lucknow gharana
• Benares gharana

Kathak dance developed in three cities - Jaipur, Lucknow, and Benares - and each city produced its own school of dance. While these gharanas share some major features, they each have their own distinguishing characteristics.

The single most significant influence on the Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas was undoubtedly the Mughal rule of India. This era profoundly changed Kathak in terms of language, presentation, costumes, make-up, music, execution, and spiritual and artistic impact. Only the Benares gharana managed to escape these changes.

Today's artists often blend features of one or more gharanas into their choreography, and this has come to be known as one form of fusion dance.