Dancing with the stars

Munir Ahmed

Dancing is an expression of jubilation. Our cultural history is resplendent with traditions of classical and folk dances. However, this beautiful form of expression has been unable to flourish.

Six years ago, Pakistan National Council of the Arts (PNCA) revived its National Performing Arts Group (NPAG) in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. Naeem Tahir, former Director General PNCA, chose Zarqa Chaurdhry, a former dancer with the NPAG in Karachi, to form the Islamabad chapter of the National Performing Arts Group.

Zarqa, who had been hibernating in the capital, devoted all her time and energy to find and train young dancing enthusiasts.

Now, the NPAG has emerged as the soul of all entertainment and cultural shows in the city. A group of 10 enthusiastic dancers, including five young women, has won the hearts of culture-lovers.

Zarqa claims to have prepared as many as 30 dances including regional folk and Sufi numbers since the inception of this group in 2006. They have performed for many visiting heads of states, diplomats and other foreign delegations, and on days of national importance.

Zarqa says, “Some members of the group have also performed in International festivals and grabbed laurels. The NPAG won first prize in the 2008 Asian Arts Festival held in China and were second in 2009. The Pakistan embassy in Tokyo (Japan) invited the group to mark the country’s Independence Day celebrations in 2010.”

“Sahira, Nasir Masih, Fauzia Malik and Shail Shah were among the pioneers. Now Sehrish, Fauzia, Sunbal, Sohail Shah, and Nasir Masih are the top performers. Of course, the efforts of two heads of the PNCA cannot be undermined while mentioning the success story of the group. Firstly, it was Naeem Tahir, the former Director General, and now Tauqeer Nasir, presently heading the PNCA.”

Zarqa recalls, “Though restrictions on dance had been imposed since independence, we have also seen small-scale promotions during the democratic governments from late 1980s to late 1990s. Excluding General Zia ul Haq, all the military rulers promoted arts and culture.”

“Former president Ayub Khan established a countrywide network of arts councils in 1960s. Former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto is termed as godfather of our culture whose personal interest gave the nation cultural institutions in the early 1970s.

“Former president General Pervez Musharraf also propagated ‘enlightened moderation’ by strengthening cultural institutions. The present premises of the PNCA and the National Art Gallery were completed in the Musharraf regime.

“The Group dates back to 1964 when Naeem Tahir was appointed Resident Director of the Punjab Arts Council, Lahore, by the then President Ayub Khan who instructed to put together a cultural troupe to tour China. Since then, the troupe has made several tours around the world as cultural ambassadors.

“PNCA was incepted in 1972 with a mandate to groom and promote culture. Being the soul of cultural social life, dance has enjoyed a central place in the performing arts programming of PNCA.”

Zarqa was part of the group when it was reformed in 1973 at the PIA Arts and Dance Academy under the supervision of Zia Mohyeddin, a living legend in Pakistan’s performing arts. The Academy was instituted on the instructions of Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Before setting up this Academy, Zia Mohyeddin had gained popularity through his PTV programme ‘Zia Mohyeddin Show’. The Group toured different countries to promote the cultural face of the country, and also performed at Madison Square Garden and for Queen Elizabeth II.

“The Academy was closed in the early 1980s when General Zia-ul-Haq imposed a ban on all sorts of cultural activities and curbed national institutes promoting dance and music. It was re-established in the first regime of Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in late 1980s in Karachi, under the supervision of the PNCA.

Zarqa Chaudhry recalls, “I was one of the junior dance performers with the group in the 1970s. It was a culture-friendly era. Pakistan’s dance and music troupe was known for its excellence. Suhail Rana used to compose music and groom singers in folk and popular numbers. Maharaja Ghulam Hussain, former Bharatnatiam performer, used to choreograph the dances along with Rafi Anwar, another choreographer and dancer.”

“Leading dancers like Bulbula Feroza, Naseem Hameed and Shamsul Huda Chaurdhry always inspired and encouraged newcomers like me. We learned from them and are now teaching this art form to our present generation. Islamabad was a hot place for the group. We had several memorable performances in Islamabad for visiting dignitaries.”

Published in daily Dateline Islamabad, December 30, 2011

http://www.dateline.com.pk/epaper/index.php?date=2011-12-30&page_no=2