Impact of Autonomy and Imagery on Flow Experience of Kathak Dancers: An Empirical Study

Although classical dance is an embodied artistic practice that integrates cognitive, emotional, and physical processes, limited research has examined the psychological factors that contribute to optimal experiential states among dancers. The present study investigates the role of autonomy and imagery abilities in predicting the flow experience among Kathak dancers. With a sample of 100 Kathak dancers between the ages of 18 and 35, a cross-sectional research design was employed to explore the relationship between these psychological variables. Participants completed measures assessing autonomy, imagery abilities, and flow experience. Descriptive statistics and correlational analysis were used to examine the relationship among the variables. The findings highlight the importance of psychological skills in enhancing optimal performance states and suggest that developing autonomy and imagery abilities may support improved performance and experiential engagement in classical dance training.