Alaina Roy’s first solo performance in Pakistan traces history of kathak dance

Dancer to conduct show highlighting evolution of dance form over the years

KARACHI: Alaina Roy is a young Kathak dancer, trained under the guidance of Guru Pali Chandra and Nitesh Saraswat Ji in Dubai for 10 years. Currently studying psychology in the UK, she has been visiting Pakistan every summer since 2016 to teach the art form to several students here.

In her young career, Roy has performed at events and festivals across the United Arab Emirates and London. The upcoming show, titled ‘Kathak - Kal Se Aaj Tak,’ marks her first solo performance in Pakistan and will trace the evolution of kathak dance through the ages from its classical Nritta enactment to the contemporary Nritya or rhythmic style. With a decade of experience under her belt, the performer intends to raise more awareness about the eastern classical art form.

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Speaking with The Express Tribune, Roy shared she was six when she first started doing ballet. “And then I wanted to do something different. And my guru (Pali Chandra) opened a studio in Dubai. It was a small one in the beginning and I trained there. So yes, I started kathak dancing when I was eight or nine,” she shared.

Roy is excited about her first solo show in Karachi, which is slated to take place on Friday. Her performance will be complemented by tabla player Yusuf Kerai and harmonium artist Salman Wazir. Two guest artists, Arieb Azhar and Ifti, will also join in the show.

Talking about the state of and people’s perception about kathak dance in Pakistan, the performer said the dance form was dying in the country.

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“I wish and hope it does evolve and the only way that can happen is by changing people’s mindsets about it,” she said. “People don’t really know about kathak, what a rich history it has and how it has evolved throughout the years. They need to be educated about it.”

Roy continued, “I want an evolution of art in Pakistan. The main issue here is that people who learn all these art forms, especially dance, leave the country because of a lack of appreciation and opportunities. It’s difficult but I would like to play my small part in creating awareness and changing people’s perception of kathak.”

For Roy, ‘Kathak - Kal Se Aaj Tak’ is just the first stepping stone in her journey. The performance will be held at 7 30pm on Friday, August 17 at T2F, Karachi.

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