Kathak classes in London range from open classes and a three-year diploma at the Bhavan in West Kensington to lessons at Srishti in Harrow and a monthly semi-classical course in Mayfair that blends kathak with Bollywood.
Kathak is a classical dance of North India and one of the eight classical dance forms recognised in India. The name comes from katha, the Sanskrit word for story, and the dance grew out of storytellers who retold epics through movement, gesture and facial expression. It later developed in the royal courts, where Persian and Mughal influences shaped its elegant, refined side.
A kathak performance is built on rhythm. The dancer performs fast, precise footwork (tatkar) with ankle bells (ghungroo), spins in rapid turns (chakkar), and tells stories with expressive hand gestures and facial expressions (abhinaya). The dancer is accompanied by live or recorded tabla and often engages in a rhythmic dialogue with the drummer.
Teachers trace their style to one of the main schools, or gharanas, of kathak: Jaipur, Lucknow and Banaras. Lucknow is known for graceful, lyrical movement and Jaipur for strong rhythmic work, and a school will normally teach the style of its own teacher.
Kathak and Bharatanatyam are both classical Indian dance forms and are often taught side by side, but they come from different regions and look very different.
Use the map below to find studios near you, or filter by area and audience to jump straight to our curated list of the best-rated Kathak studios in London further down the page.
Trial Available
Kathak, Bharatanatyam
Kathak, Bollywood, Hip Hop & 2 more styles
Kathak, Bollywood, Commercial & 1 more style
Kathak, Bollywood
Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Contemporary
Kathak, Bhangra, Ballet & 2 more styles
Kathak trains you to hear and reproduce complex rhythm cycles with your feet, which builds timing that carries over to tap, flamenco and Irish dance.
Repeated chakkars train balance, spotting and core control, and you learn to stop cleanly on the beat.
Abhinaya teaches you to use your eyes, face and hands to tell a story, which improves stage presence in any style.
The Bhavan runs Open (beginner) classes and a three-year Diploma, with theory and practical exams at the end of the summer term, so progress is easy to measure.
Kathak connects dance with music, poetry and storytelling, and a good class teaches you the language of the tradition as well as the steps.
The Bollywood Co. runs a monthly Semi-Classical course at Danceworks in Mayfair that it describes as a blend of kathak and Bollywood, a lighter first taste of the style.
The Bhavan asks new students to attend an Open (beginners) class, where the teacher assesses their level, and it says the Open classes can be joined throughout the year.
The Bhavan lists Open classes for ages 8 to 12 and for 13 and over, and Srishti teaches from age 5 upwards.
The Bhavan has a 13+ Open class and a Diploma course for students who have completed a year or reached the required standard.
The Bhavan Diploma is a three-year certificate course with an optional two-year Post-Diploma programme, and Srishti has taught kathak alongside Bharatanatyam since 2016.
Dance With Reema lists Bollywood and kathak as its specialities, and The Bollywood Co. teaches a kathak and Bollywood blend, so both suit dancers coming from film dance.
Flamenco, tap and contemporary dancers use kathak to sharpen footwork, rhythm and turning.
The main kathak training in the centre is at The Bhavan, at 4a Castletown Road near Barons Court and West Kensington. Its academic year runs from September to July, and it runs Open classes, a Diploma and short workshops. For a lighter introduction in the West End, The Bollywood Co. teaches a monthly Semi-Classical course at Danceworks in Mayfair.
In the north-west, Srishti teaches Bharatanatyam, kathak and Karnatik vocal at Harrow Arts Centre in Hatch End, for beginners to advanced students. Dance With Reema lists Bollywood and kathak as its specialities. See the West London and Central London guides for more studios, and our Bharatanatyam and Bollywood pages for related classes.
Kathak is taught in three formats in London: structured courses, regular weekly lessons and workshop-style semi-classical classes. The Bhavan runs an Open class for newcomers, a three-year Diploma that requires roughly a year of experience or the required standard, and a two-year Post-Diploma programme, with exams at the end of the summer term. Srishti and Dance With Reema run their own classes (ask them for the current timetable), and The Bollywood Co. runs its semi-classical course monthly.
None of these schools publishes fees on the pages we checked, so contact the school for current rates, or use the Timetable & Fees page on the Bhavan site. Ask for a trial or an open class before you commit, and for private coaching see private dance lessons.
Wear comfortable clothes that let you move and stretch, such as leggings with a fitted kurta or top, and tie your hair back. Kathak is usually danced barefoot, so check with the school before buying anything.
Ankle bells (ghungroo) are bought later, once your teacher says you are ready, and traditional costume is only needed for performances and exams.
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