Kathak Classes for Children and Adults in Surrey
Sama School of Kathak offers classes across all levels, from a child's very first encounter with the dance to advanced PRSSV examination preparation. Classes are small by design — this is a school where teaching is personal, progress is genuine, and no student is left to figure things out alone. Sessions take place in Surrey, with online classes also available for students who cannot attend in person.
Beginners — Grades 1 and 2
Beginners classes are open to children from age five and to adults with no prior dance experience. There is no expectation to arrive knowing anything at all — these classes start from the very beginning.
Students are introduced to the foundational building blocks of Kathak: tatkaar, the rhythmic footwork that sits at the heart of the form; basic mudras and hasta (hand gestures and positions); simple compositions set to Teentaal and Dadra; and an early feel for how rhythm and music fit together. The pace is encouraging and unhurried. The aim at this stage is not perfection but enjoyment, curiosity, and a growing sense of what Kathak really is.
Intermediate — Grades 3, 4 and 5
At intermediate level, students begin to find their own voice within the form. The technical vocabulary expands significantly — footwork becomes faster and more intricate, chakkar (spins) are developed with proper placement and control, and compositions grow in length and complexity. Students work on Thumri, Vandana, and Paran, and begin to develop the expressive quality known as Abhinaya — the art of communicating emotion and narrative through the body and face.
PRSSV graded examinations become a central focus from Grade 3 onwards. Examination preparation is built into classes throughout the year, covering both the practical repertoire and the theory components that form part of the assessment.
Advanced — Grades 6, 7 and 8
Advanced classes are where the full richness of Kathak opens up. Students work through the classical repertoire in depth — Aamad, Salami, Gat-Nikas, Tarana, and the sophisticated layakari compositions that mark the senior syllabus. Alongside practical work, students study Kathak theory and musicology: tala, raga, the history and development of the form, and the distinct traditions of the Jaipur and Lucknow gharanas.
Preparation for PRSSV Grades 6, 7, and 8 is rigorous and detailed. These are serious qualifications — Grade 8 carries UCAS Tariff points — and classes at this level reflect that. Students are prepared not just to pass their examinations but to perform at them with genuine artistry.
Formats and Scheduling
The following formats are currently available — please get in touch for up-to-date scheduling and availability:
- In-person group classes — Surrey (Staines-upon-Thames area)
- One-to-one individual classes — in person and online
- Online group classes — available to students across the UK
- Intensive PRSSV examination preparation — by arrangement