What up peeps,

In print, on videos, and in descriptions of ATS people always mention that one of the major influences of ATS, aside from Flamenco, is Kathak.

I study Bharatanayam, and granted am not an expert in Kathak (although I've seen oodles of it performed and have read up extensively on all of the major classical Indian dances), but I think I know enough to spot any sort of Indian dance influence in something, and fail to see any Kathak influence in ATS... unless one counts the Indian prayer FCBD uses. But one step does not a "major" influence make!


Where did this Kathak thing come from? Nearly all ATS groups that I know of (including the one I used to be a member of) mention this in their blubs, and I don't know why (maybe just 'cuz FCBD used it as part of their original description, so people just followed along?).

I'm not against fusion- all I do now is pretty much world fusion, and I think it would be kickass if Kathak really was a major part of ATS. I guess I just want things to be clear, so outsiders get an accurate perception of what's going on in a particular performance or dance form.

I know that Megha studies Odissi, and she's been a major force in ATS lately, so perhaps at this point more Indian stuff has made it into the ATS culture (I haven't done ATS hardcore for a couple years, so sadly I am out of the loop). But... even then, Odissi is different than Kathak.

Again, I'm not trying to put down ATS or anything like that, it's just something I've wondered about ever since I began my studies in Bharatanatyam. I just honestly don't know where the influence of Kathak is in ATS. But maybe I'm missing something??

Any ideas?

Peace,
Dani :)