Dāstān: Kathak through the Ages

Kathak didn't begin on a proscenium. Dāstān: Kathak through the Ages walks the form back to its roots in sacred storytelling and devotional practice, then forward through its years in the royal courts, before landing on the stages dancers perform on now. All of it is carried by rhythm, movement and storytelling rather than a lecture — devotional narratives, courtly style and the rhythmic repertoire of pure kathak each get their turn.

The presentation runs 30 minutes, from 12pm on Sat 28 Nov 2026 at the Esplanade Concourse, performed by dancers from Singapore. It's free, so there's no ticket to chope and nothing to lose by wandering in on a Saturday afternoon — whether you know kathak's vocabulary or are hearing the word for the first time.