Shiva Britannica

India was the most magnificent jewel in the crown of the British Empire for two centuries. The period of the Raj spawned a rich cultural exchange that initially seemed to flow strongest from West to East. The exchange continues today but with the flow emphatically in the opposite direction. English vocabulary is so thoroughly littered with words from the Indian subcontinent that many English speakers are not even aware of their etymology.

The mutual exchange of gifts has been generous and embraces textiles, sports, architecture, music, food and religion; but it was only during the twentieth century that a significant exchange between theatrical dance cultures began. The mixed marriage that was initiated by Pavlova, Uday Shankar, Markova and Ram Gopal has produced increasingly fecund progeny in Akram Khan, Shobana Jeyasingh, Mavin Khoo and many others.
There are a number of different Indian dance forms including Kathakali, Kuchipudi and Odissi but in Britain the strongest forms are Kathak and Bharata Natyam. Kathak originated in the Mughal courts of northern India. Exotic dancers, including early flamenco influences, were imported from Spain and Algeria to perform at the courts. ...