Performing art: ‘Zia’s ban on dance made it political’

Speaker holds ban on dance responsible for lack of innovation

LAHORE:

A ban on dance performances during General Ziaul Haq’s government transformed the performing art into a political act. It has become an expression of resistance in the country, kathak dancer Nighat Chaudhry said on Sunday.

She was speaking at a panel discussion held in connection with International Dance Day at Alharma on the Mall.

Chaudhry recalled that she had returned to the country after the imposition of the ban. “I found it strange that a government would want to prevent people from dancing. I was used to living in a country where it was taught to children in schools,” she said.

Bina Jawwad held the ban on dance performances responsible for the lack of innovation in various dance forms popular in the country. She said there was a vibrant dance culture in the country before 1977.

The session was moderated by Feriyal Aslam and Sheraz Haider. Kathak dancers Shayma Saeed and Naila Riaz were the other panelists. It was followed by folk, kathak and contemporary dance performances by 12 groups.

The Dance Day Manao event was organised by the Institute of Performing Arts (IPA) set up jointly by Nighat Chaudhry Foundation, Wahab Shah Dance Company and Dugdugi with the aim of promoting learning of various forms of performing arts. Formal dance classes will start at the institute from June 1. However, it has already started arranging performances across the country to generate public interest.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Chaudhry said that the variety of performances was meant to showcase the range of dance forms taught at the institute. She said there was great demand training in dance and other performing arts in the country. She said she intended to upgrade the institute into a chartered university of the performing arts. She said the institute was affiliated with the London-based Institute of Performing Arts and Heritage.

Wahab Shah said dance was no longer considered taboo in Pakistani society. “We need to provide people with formal institutions where they can learn the art,” he said.

Shah said people had been reluctant to take up dance or other performing arts as a profession because of a lack of role models in the profession. He said he hoped the trend would change as IPA students succeeded in the profession.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2015.