The ancient mārgī tradition codified in the Nāṭyaśāstra fused with the deśī tradition giving rise to the seven classical dance styles of India. Kathak is the dance style developed in this process in the North India. That the dance style underwent changes is evident from the śāstra-s written by the scholars in various time eras. Kathak which was under royal patronage since medieval period, has adapted many deśī varieties in the course of its development. Among the various treatises the treatise Nartananirṇaya describes certain new trends which have strong influence on the technique of Kathak. Over the period these concepts and techniques have become the characteristic features of Kathak. Thus the Kathak dance which is practiced today is a beautiful blend of the ancient mārgī tradition and the deśī trends emerging since medieval period.