Kathak — training ladder, gharanas, Doordarshan grades & scholarships
Everything a Kathak student and family need from the first class with a guru to a national stage: what the course syllabus demands, the age limit of every Kathak Kendra course, how Doordarshan grades dancers, the Sangeet Natak Akademi honours, ICCR empanelment, the scholarships and fellowships that pay for training, and an honest look at jobs.
What Kathak training is built on
There is no single 'rule book' for a classical dance. The nearest official benchmark is what India's national Kathak institute asks of a dancer at the door of its full-time course — Kathak Kendra's Diploma Honours entry standard (age 19–23) lists the repertoire and theory below. [2]
- Teentaal repertoire: theka, nagma, tatkaar, thaat, amad, tihai, paltey / bol-bant / ladi, tukda, paran, parmelu, chakkardar compositions, gat nikas, gat bhav, kavitta and musical compositions such as sargam.
- Jhaptaal and Dhamaar taal: theka, nagma, tatkaar and tihai.
- Thumri in its primary format, and a Vandana.
- The ability to recite and dance all nritta and musical compositions on theka.
- Theory: history and evolution of Kathak, an introduction to Panchajaati in rhythm, the relevant chapters of the Natya Shastra and Abhinaya Darpan, India's classical and major folk dances, the eminent artistes and gurus of Kathak, and the definition of every technical term used.
- Desirable: training in Hindustani vocal music, tabla or pakhawaj — Kathak is taught as one discipline with Hindustani music. [2]
The two halves every Doordarshan dance audition tests [9]
| Segment | Minimum time | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Abhinaya (expressive dance) | 7 min 30 s | Recorded in a single take, no editing |
| Nritta (technical dance) | 7 min 30 s | Black cyclorama / black background; live or pre-recorded music |
On lineage, the Sangeet Natak Akademi's own history of Kathak Kendra says the Kendra became a venue for merging formats from the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas, and that Uttar Pradesh set up a state Kathak Kendra in Lucknow in 1973 (founding director Lachhu Maharaj) while Rajasthan set up the Jaipur Kathak Kendra — 'both places are known for their respective gharanas'. [4]
Doordarshan treats a lineage as a credential: 'stake holders of the legacy traditions (gharana)' are one of the three groups that may ask the Director General, Doordarshan for exemption from the routine audition. [9]
The Banaras gharana (and Raigarh) are widely taught, but Margdarshan found no Sangeet Natak Akademi or Ministry of Culture file that defines or ranks Kathak gharanas, so this page does not. Judge a guru by checkable facts — their own training, their students' Doordarshan grades and Akademi recognition — not by a gharana label alone.
The recognitions that count for a Kathak dancer
Sangeet Natak Akademi honours (Kathak is a named dance category) [5][6]
| Honour | Who is considered | What it carries |
|---|---|---|
| Akademi Ratna (Fellow) | Ordinarily age 50+; at most 40 living Fellows | ₹3 lakh, citation, angavastram, tamrapatra; medical cover up to ₹1.5 lakh a year |
| Akademi Puraskar (Award) | Ordinarily age 35+; 12 awards a year in the dance field | ₹1 lakh (raised from ₹50,000 in 2009), citation, angavastram, tamrapatra; medical cover up to ₹1 lakh a year |
| Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar | Up to age 40; at most 33 a year, 8 of them in dance | ₹25,000 and a tamrapatra; awardees are, as far as possible, invited to perform at the Akademi's festival |
Nobody applies for these honours. Yuva Puraskar names come from Akademi Fellows and awardees, General Council members, chairpersons of State Akademis, State/UT culture secretaries, heads of performing-arts departments in recognised universities and eminent experts; Akademi Ratna Fellows are elected by a majority of at least three-fourths of the members present and voting. [6][5]
Doordarshan dance grades (guidelines of 27 Feb 2025) [9]
| Grade | Minimum age | Who awards it | Processing fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| B | 18 | Local Dance Audition Committee at the Doordarshan Kendra | ₹2,000 |
| B-High | 25 | Central Dance Audition Board, DG Doordarshan, New Delhi | ₹3,000 (B → B-High) |
| A | 35 | Central Dance Audition Board | ₹4,000 (B-High → A) |
| Top | 40 | Central Dance Audition Board | ₹5,000 (A → Top) |
- Kendras may invite applications from 1–30 April and/or 1–30 November; Doordarshan Kendra Lucknow, for example, took classical-dance applications from 1 to 30 April 2026.
- Kathak is one of eight listed classical forms; a separate application is needed for each dance form.
- Proof of age, certificates from gurus or institutions and press reviews go with the form.
- Anyone not found suitable can reappear only after one year.
- Exemption route: national, Padma, SNA, State Government or State Akademi award winners, gharana stake-holders and renowned performers may apply with a recording of at least 15 minutes, not older than 6 months, and a ₹10,000 fee — each grade has its own minimum years of national/international performing experience and minimum age. [9]
- The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) empanels artists aged 18 and above; applications are open throughout the year and expert advisory committees review them annually.
- ICCR's published genre-wise list (updated 25 Nov 2025) shows each empanelled artist's current category — Outstanding, Established or Proficient — and the countries ICCR has sponsored them to. [11][12]
ICCR's pages do not publish what separates Proficient, Established and Outstanding, so Margdarshan does not guess the criteria. Empanelment puts you on the panel; it is not a promise of a tour.
Age limits for every course and scholarship
Kathak Kendra courses, session 2026-27 (ages as on 1 June 2026) [1][2]
| Course | Age | Schooling needed | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation | 10–15 | Continuing school, Class III completed | 5 years |
| Diploma Pass | 15–20 | Continuing school, Class IX completed | 3 years |
| Diploma Honours (full-time, 25 seats) | 19–23 | Class XII passed + Diploma Pass or equivalent | 3 years |
| Post Diploma (full-time, 25 seats) | 21–26 | Graduate + Diploma Honours or equivalent | 2 years |
Central scholarships and fellowships open to dancers [13][15][14]
| Scheme | Age | Amount | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| CCRT Cultural Talent Search Scholarship | 10–14 | ₹3,600 a year + guru/institution tuition reimbursed up to ₹9,000 a year | 2 years at a time, renewable up to the first degree or age 20; 650 new awards a year |
| Scholarship to Young Artistes (Ministry of Culture) | 18–25, with at least 5 years under a guru or institution | ₹5,000 a month | 2 years; up to 400 a batch; interview before an expert committee |
| Junior Fellowship | 25–40 | ₹10,000 a month | 2 years, for a cultural research project; 200 a batch |
| Senior Fellowship | Above 40 | ₹20,000 a month | 2 years; 200 a batch |
- Kathak Kendra's form needs a passport photo, the ₹200 fee receipt, a medical fitness certificate from an MBBS doctor, qualification and Kathak training certificates, and government ID.
- Doordarshan's form needs proof of age, certificates from your gurus or institutions and press reviews — start a file of every certificate, programme and review from the first year of training. [1][9]
BVA and BFA are visual / fine-arts degrees, not dance degrees. A dancer's routes are an institute diploma (such as Kathak Kendra's) or a performing-arts degree (BPA / MPA) from a recognised university — check the university's recognition before paying any fee.
From a local guru to national stages
Every step from first teacher to the national stage, the detailed route, the age-by-age ladder, with sources.
Where to train — verified 2026-27 details
- Kathak Kendra (National Institute of Kathak Dance), New Delhi — a unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, established in 1964; it also teaches Hindustani vocal music, pakhawaj and tabla.
- 2026-27 forms were available 6–27 June 2026 (online at admission@kathakkendra.in or at the reception), fee ₹200; applicants sit a pre-admission test and are admitted on merit and seats; orientation was on 10 July 2026. [4][1]
Kathak Kendra fee structure [3]
| Course | Fee |
|---|---|
| Foundation | ₹400 a month |
| Diploma Pass | ₹450 a month |
| Preparatory phase (for Diploma Honours) | ₹500 a month |
| Diploma Honours | ₹500 a month |
| Post Diploma | ₹650 a month |
| Refresher | ₹1,250 a month |
| ICCR scholarship holders | ₹5,000 a month |
| One-time at admission | ₹300 admission + ₹1,000 security deposit + ₹500 library (non-refundable) |
- Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi (founded 1939, affiliated to Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai) teaches Kathak and Odissi; dance admission age is 11 and above (as on 1 May 2026).
- Audition: a 2-minute dance sequence with your own music; Kathak classes are 45 minutes, 3 days a week; 75% attendance is compulsory.
- 2026-27 fees: form ₹500, admission ₹5,000, tuition and instrument fee ₹3,000 a month (Indian nationals), all in cash.
- For the 2026 batch, the Vidyalaya teaches from Prarambhik to Alankar Purna but does not hold the Mandal's exams — students sit them privately at other centres. [10]
Bhatkhande Sanskriti Vishwavidyalaya, Lucknow also teaches Kathak, but its official website could not be reached when Margdarshan checked (16 Oct 2026), so its seats, fees and dates are not quoted here. Take them only from the university's own notice.
What Kathak training costs — and who pays
Costs that are published in official notices [3][10][9]
| Item | Amount | Paid by |
|---|---|---|
| Kathak Kendra Diploma Honours tuition | ₹500 a month (₹6,000 a year) | Family, or a scholarship |
| Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi | ₹5,000 admission + ₹3,000 a month | Family |
| Doordarshan grading / upgrading | ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per application | The artiste |
- Guru's fees, ages 10–14: the CCRT scholarship reimburses actual tuition paid to the guru or institution up to ₹9,000 a year.
- Advanced training, ages 18–25: the Ministry of Culture's young-artiste scholarship pays ₹5,000 a month for 2 years.
- Touring abroad: under the Ministry of Culture's Global Engagement Scheme, all expenditure on deputing an artist to a 'Festival of India' abroad is borne by the Government.
- Institutions: Sangeet Natak Akademi grants-in-aid to training institutions run from ₹30,000 to ₹1,00,000 a year — and expressly do not pay for musical instruments, stage lights or other capital items. [13][15][16][7]
Gandharva Mahavidyalaya's rules tell dance students to bring their own ghungroo, notebook and towel, and to follow the teacher's dress code (kurta-churidar, salwar-kameez or frock-slacks with dupatta). [10]
Ghungroo, stage costumes, jewellery and recorded music are bought by the family. No Government file publishes a price list, and how many bells a ghungroo set carries is the guru's call — so Margdarshan does not print prices. Ask the guru for an itemised list, buy practice wear first, and buy stage costumes only when a performance is fixed.
How Kathak artistes earn — and what the government offers
- A Doordarshan grade is not a salary: graded artists 'may be given an opportunity to showcase their talent' on Doordarshan's platform when the Kendra needs them. [9]
- Guru's Repertory grant: ₹15,000 a month (Ministry of Culture).
- Junior / Senior Fellowship: ₹10,000 / ₹20,000 a month for 2 years of research.
- Festival engagements: Zonal Cultural Centres engage artists from across India for the Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs — 14 held since November 2015.
- Old age: Financial Assistance for Veteran Artists pays up to ₹6,000 a month to artistes aged 60+ with annual income up to ₹72,000; it passes to the spouse on death.
- Prize money: SNA Yuva ₹25,000, Akademi Puraskar ₹1 lakh, Akademi Ratna ₹3 lakh. [14][6][5]
A senior government post in the field — as advertised [8]
| Post | Pay | Age | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Director, Kathak Kendra (SNA), contract 1 year, extendable to 3 | Pay Level 11 — ₹67,700–2,08,700 | 40–50 (relaxable) | PG degree, preferably in humanities, social science, music, dance or drama; experience running performing-arts schemes, especially Kathak and classical music |
There is no 'cultural quota' in the central sports-quota rules: DoPT's list of qualifying disciplines covers games and sports only — no dance or music form is on it. Government work for a dancer comes through open teaching and academy posts, graded broadcast and festival engagements, and the schemes above. [18]
Before you pay anyone
- Nobody can 'arrange' a Doordarshan grade: B is decided by the Kendra's Local Dance Audition Committee and every upgrade by the Central Board in New Delhi; disputes go to the Director General, Doordarshan.
- Akademi honours are by nomination only — anyone selling a 'Sangeet Natak Akademi award application' is not from the Akademi.
- Kathak Kendra accepts fees only online or by cheque to 'Director, Kathak Kendra, New Delhi' — no cash.
- The young-artiste scholarship needs at least 5 years of training under a guru or institution — without year-wise certificates you cannot prove it.
- Watch the age windows: Kathak Kendra's Diploma Honours closes at 23 and the young-artiste scholarship at 25 — a late start can be fixed only through a guru, not the institute. [9][6][3][15][1]
Performing is physical work: Kathak Kendra asks for a medical fitness certificate before admission. Train under a qualified guru and treat knee and ankle pain from footwork seriously.
Where these facts come from
Every fact on this Education Margdarshan page is taken from a Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ministry of Culture, Prasar Bharati or ICCR file below, or from an academy's own 2026-27 notice (used only for that academy). Age limits, fees and scheme amounts change every year — open the current file before you apply or pay. Read on 16 October 2026.
- Kathak Kendra — Admission, session 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) Course ages and schooling, 2026 form dates, ₹200 fee, documents, pre-admission test · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Kathak Kendra — Courses (Elementary and Advanced) (opens in a new tab) Diploma Honours and Post Diploma entry standards, repertoire and theory · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Kathak Kendra — Fee Structure (opens in a new tab) Monthly fees by course, admission, security and library charges, payment rules · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Kathak Kendra (constituent unit) (opens in a new tab) Status as SNA unit, 1964, music courses, Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas, state Kathak Kendras · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Guidelines for SNA Fellowship & Award (opens in a new tab) Akademi Ratna and Puraskar purse, numbers, dance categories, age, election · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Guidelines for Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (opens in a new tab) Age up to 40, 33 awards, ₹25,000, nominators, festival performance · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Grants-in-aid to cultural institutions (opens in a new tab) ₹30,000–₹1,00,000 grants; no money for instruments or other capital items · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Vacancy circular: Director, Kathak Kendra (2025) (opens in a new tab) Pay Level 11, age 40–50, qualifications, contract term · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Prasar Bharati / DG Doordarshan — Guidelines for Gradation & Audition of Dance Artists (27 Feb 2025) (opens in a new tab) Grades, minimum ages, fees, audition segments, boards, exemption, re-audition gap · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi — Prospectus 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) Courses, ABGMVM levels, admission ages, audition, fees, rules · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- ICCR — Empanelment of Artists/Groups: Introduction (opens in a new tab) Age 18+, year-round applications, annual expert committees · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- ICCR — Genre-wise list of empanelled artists (updated 25 Nov 2025) (opens in a new tab) Current categories Outstanding / Established / Proficient, sponsorship history · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- CCRT (Ministry of Culture) — Cultural Talent Search Scholarship Scheme (opens in a new tab) Age 10–14, ₹3,600 a year + tuition up to ₹9,000, 650 awards, renewal to age 20 · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- PIB — Financial assistance to traditional artists, folk artists and cultural institutions (Lok Sabha, 16 Mar 2026) (opens in a new tab) Repertory grant, scholarships, Junior/Senior Fellowships, Veteran Artists, Rashtriya Sanskriti Mahotsavs · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- PIB — Financial Grant Scheme for Young Artists (Lok Sabha, 10 Mar 2025) (opens in a new tab) ₹5,000 a month, ages 18–25, 5 years' prior training, expert-committee interview · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- PIB — Financial Assistance Schemes for Traditional Artists (Rajya Sabha, 27 Mar 2025) (opens in a new tab) Global Engagement Scheme — Government bears all expenditure for Festival of India artists · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- PIB — Preservation and Promotion of Cultural Heritage (17 Mar 2025) (opens in a new tab) SNA 'Kala Deeksha' Guru Shishya Parampara training programmes · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
- DoPT — Instructions on Recruitment/Promotion for Sportspersons (18 Nov 2022) (opens in a new tab) Qualifying list is games and sports only — no performing arts · Last checked 16 Oct 2026
Spotted something out of date? Email margdarshan07support10@gmail.com with the official link and Education Margdarshan will update it.
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