Pool of talent unearthed

Friday evening was another cog in the chain of entertainment that Karachiites have been witnessing since the dawn of the New Year. It was the two-day dance festival at the Karachi Arts Council that brought out the tremendous pool of artistic talent that has lain buried out into the open. Oozing talent that, for whatever reasons, had been lying buried was, happily, unearthed.

The dancers were there from all parts of the country, from the rugged sun-baked sandy shores of Mekran in the extreme south-west of the country to the snow-capped, sky-piercing peaks of Gilgit-Baltistan in the extreme north-east.

This vast pool of talent got a wonderful opportunity to flower. It was so nice to know that despite inhibitions, there are hundreds upon hundreds who have not allowed their talent to rot. It was a shot in the arm for our rich cultural heritage and people got to witness it for themselves. It beamed to the world the message that we, Pakistanis, are as much art-loving as any other, that Pakistan is not just bomb blasts and sectarian killings, that we as a nation are as much fun-loving as any other.

The great city of #Karachi celebrates dance at the Arts Council's dance festival pic.twitter.com/pOXGVGMiKG

— Zehra (@zehra_abid4) May 6, 2017

All the dance pieces presented were masterpieces by themselves. One would be hard put to determine as to which one was the best. However, for fans with more conservative tastes, it would not be a problem because while most of the numbers were simply flawless, some stood out even among these.  

For instance, the performance of Kathak by Shayma Saiyid was simply superb. Her artistic and rhythmic movements, coupled with her highly supple and agile form, seemed really to tell a tale, as if she really were narrating a story. Her smile, which was a part of the dance, was so natural. One just could not say that she was making an effort to put on a smile. That made the dance all the more winsome.

Following close behind was Amna Mowaz from Islamabad with her Tillana. Her hand and arm movements were so exquisite and agile.

Another highly entertaining number was a group dance by fisherfolk from the Mekran coast. The group comprised four women and four men. The dance was supposed to depict the joy of the fisherfolk after a hard day’s work at sea and rejoicing over their abundant fish catch. The mere merriment and joy that they feel   at the end of the day was so aptly represented in the dance.

Among others there was a beautiful folk dance from Gilgit-Baltistan.

The Arts Council open-air theatre was packed to capacity while there were people outside watching the whole show on a giant video screen.

Sindh Governor Mohammad Zubair, who was supposed to have been the chief guest, could not come on account of some last- minute hitch. Sindh Culture Minister Syed Sardar Ali Shah substituted for him.

In his address, Shah lauded Arts Council President Ahmed Shah for his efforts to revive the cultural life of the city. He said that apart from preserving our rich cultural heritage, this festival would go a long way in beaming the message to the world that Pakistan was not sectarian killings or bomb blasts. 

Such activities, he said, would go a long way in ending the era of intolerance.

“Dance is something that has been taken from nature. So how can anything taken from nature be altered by man?” Shah said.

Earlier, Arts Council President Ahmed Shah, turning to the diplomats in the front row, said, “We are a peaceful people. We can dance, we can sing. We are not terrorists. We do not discriminate on the basis of caste, colour, or creed. Our message is love and peace. We are a peaceful, civilised people.”