Move · Videos · Dance · 33 min

Kathak Lesson 1: Tatkar Footwork in Teentaal for Beginners

Kathak Lesson 1: Tatkar Footwork in Teentaal for Beginners — video by Devesh Mirchandani Play · 32:35

Video by Devesh Mirchandani on YouTube · Open on YouTube

Dancer Devesh Mirchandani, who has trained in Kathak for 11 years, teaches a first class for beginners of any age: the starting stance, flat tatkar footwork in teentaal (16 beats), a second basic and a third with heel strikes, reciting the bols, dancing on the diagonals, then a short theory talk.

  • 33 min
  • Beginner
  • Low impact (no jumping)
  • No equipment

Good forDancing for fun

Open in VideosLog it in Train

Step by step 12

Tap a time to watch that step in the video.

  1. First position: hands in naman, right palm over left, feet in a narrow V (sama), standing tall. 1:07
  2. First basic: flat tatkar, alternating right and left through 16 beats of teentaal to sam. 2:16
  3. Teentaal explained: 16 beats in four parts, claps on 1, 5 and 13 and the empty beat on 9. 7:48
  4. Recite the bols slowly, then dance one slow cycle at vilambit speed. 11:11
  5. Second basic: four strikes from the right, four from the left, alternating each quarter. 13:54
  6. Finish on sam by turning to the right diagonal and holding the pose. 16:34
  7. Padhant: recite the bols gracefully and in rhythm while you dance. 17:20
  8. Second basic with the bols, eyes fixed on one spot and a bright face. 19:38
  9. Dance the basics facing the right diagonal, then the left. 21:00
  10. Say the teentaal bols with hand claps, ready for the third basic. 22:30
  11. Third basic: strike the heel on counts 4, 8, 12 and 16. 24:51
  12. Theory talk: practise daily, keep a notebook, then India's eight classical dances and Kathak's gharanas. 27:49

The steps are a summary in our words, checked against the video — the coach shows every move.

Form cues from the coach

  • Stand tall: shoulders down, torso long, feet in a narrow V
  • Keep the feet close and low; don't lift them high or swing about
  • Finish each cycle on sam, the first beat, and fix your gaze on one spot

What it works

Tap an area for more videos that work it.

Joints it uses 1 take load

  • Ankles & feet takes loadflat and heel stamps (tatkar) through most of the class
  • Knees movesstanding footwork, stamping on alternate feet

A guide to the joints this video’s moves load, from what the coach does — not medical advice. Some ache is normal; stop if a joint hurts sharply. How joints are rated

More like this

Browse all 764 videos

Video by Devesh Mirchandani; the summary, steps, cues, body areas and joint notes are Notbroken’s, written from what the coach actually does in the video and checked a second time. Warm up first, take the easier options until a move feels easy, and stop if you feel sharp pain, chest pain or dizziness. General instruction, not advice for your body. About & safety