Sheema Kermani dazzles a discerning audience

‘Performing in Lahore has always been a good experience’.

LAHORE: Sheema Kermani is in a league all by herself when it comes to classical dance. She has been performing for 30 years but every time she is on stage there seems to be a distinct flavour to it. An avid crowd witnessed Kermani perform yesterday at the classical dance programme of the All Pakistan Music Conference (APMC).

Kermani welcomed the audience in her own unique way with classical dance moves. She performed Odissi which traditionally consists of Mangalacharam, Battu Nrutya, Pallavi, Abhinaya and Moksha. The dance is performed to please Saraswati the goddess of dance and knowledge.

Kermani’s movements and her posture were rhythmic and in sync with the raagas. Her performance of Pallavi, a dance which celebrates Basant, was greatly appreciated by the audience. The dance started slowly with graceful and lyrical movements of the eye, neck and torso. Slowly its tempo increased. Kermani told the audience that Pallavi literally means blossoming.

Kermani also introduced her student Maani Chao who also performed. Prior to his performance Kermani introduced him and said, “It is difficult in this society for a male to become a classical dancer. Maani has been very dedicated. He will perform Bharat Natyam which is a dance that needs powerful movements and energy.” Chao delighted the audience with his performance.

Kermani said she was introduced to audiences in Lahore by APMC founder Hayat Ahmad Khan. “In a way, he was like a father to me.” She said that she had last performed in the city in 2003. “It has always been a good experience to perform in Lahore.”

The APMC secretary general said Kermai had served dance in Pakistan like no one else. She said Monday’s performance was dedicated to Hayat Ahmad Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 8^th, 2011.