LAHORE, Oct 25: The national performing arts group of the Pakistan National Council of Arts (PNCA) will hold monthly dance evenings at Shakir Ali Museum, Dawn has learnt.

Officials say the group will present a grand performance on Nov 10 at Alhamra Art Centre at the inaugural of an international exhibition of musical instruments.

The dances to be performed at the evenings include classical, bhangra, dawn to dusk, Sindhi jhoomar, Kelash dance, raga rock, cotton picking dance, Bulleh Shah, ajrang, peacock dance, Taxila civilization, salsa and Anarkali.

Shakir Ali Museum Director Amna Pataudi told Dawn that till 2006 the national performing arts group would perform in Karachi. Later, it was decided that such groups should also be formed at the provincial level. Now these groups exist in Islamabad and Lahore as well.

Ms Pataudi said the Lahore group had performed in the US, UK, Sri Lanka, China and India.

She said in a recent meeting in Lahore with Federal Minister Culture Pir Aftab Jillani, it was decided that the group should hold one dance evening every month.

She said the PNCA had formed these groups to enrich the tradition of performing arts. She said performing arts lovers had long been missing such cultural evenings where they could enjoy dances. He said performing arts groups would promote peace through sufi music.

The 16-member Lahore group includes six boys and six girls working with the PNCA on a contract and getting monthly salaries. Famous choreographer Roshan Ara Bokahri deals with the group.

She has learnt Kathak and Bharatnatyam dances from two best choreographers of their times -- Rafi Anwar and Tara Chaudhry. She joined Shakir Ali Museum some four years ago.

Her major contribution towards the national performing arts group is fusion of various dances. She has trained her students for story-based dances. Zafar Dilawar is the dance tutor of the group who is from a known family of dance teachers.

The group will also perform on November 10 at Alhamra Art Centre at the inaugural ceremony of the international exhibition based on music instruments. There will also be a music instruments performance on this occasion in which dying music instruments of this region such as the Tanpura, Pakhawaj, Sarangi and Chitravina will be performed.