ISTD Grade 1

The course runs about 6-8 months for most students. You choose 30- or 60-minute sessions, as personal 1-on-1 classes or a family group class, scheduled around your availability — including evenings and weekends.

The ISTD exam typically involves set exercises and sequences performed for an examiner, assessing technique, musicality, and presentation. This course covers all of it — your teacher works through the syllabus with you and runs mock assessments so nothing in the exam room comes as a surprise.

Comfortable practice wear that lets your teacher see your form clearly — for classical styles, a salwar kameez with the dupatta tied at the waist for back support, hair tied back so facial expressions are visible, and a bindi to help the teacher track eye movements.

Around 20-30 minutes daily — classical dance builds strength and muscle memory through repetition, so consistent short practice matters more than long weekend sessions. Your teacher assigns specific sequences to drill after each class.

You can request a different teacher at any time — teacher fit matters, and changing is a normal part of finding your best learning pace. Teachers are matched to your instrument, level, and schedule from Spardha's pool of 800+ certified teachers.

It is the Beginner stage of Spardha's Kathak pathway, which runs from Foundation through Advanced with certifications at each step. When you complete it, your teacher maps your next course based on how you are progressing and what you want from your music.