Dance has its own significance in every part of the world woven into social or ceremonial fabric. Theatrical, regional, traditional and film dances have their own place in society. Dance is celebrated across the world every year on April 29 on International Dance Day.

On this day in Lahore, as in the rest of the world, there would be dance performances by various art institutions. The main event would be held by Shakir Ali Museum’s National Performing Arts Group that falls under the Pakistan National Council of the Arts.

This year, the arts group would pay tribute to ace classical dancer Roshan Ara Bukhari. Currently based in Karachi, Roshan Ara was the first choreographer of the group.

Shakir Ali Museum Director Amna Pataudi told Dawn recently that the museum would organise a grand International Dance Day evening on April 29 at Alhamra Art Centre, The Mall. The tribute to Roshan Ara Bukhari will be paid not only by the National Performing Arts Group, but also by dance societies of National College of Arts and Lahore Grammar School.

She further said there would be two exclusive dance performances by the group dedicated to Shakir Ali as part of the painter’s centennial celebrations.

This year, the Punjab Council of the Arts is also participating in International Dance Day celebrations as some of the dancers from the council would also perform classical dances at the same event.

The Punjab Institute of Language, Art and Culture (Pilac) will organise the launch of a poetry collection on April 29.

The poetry collection is based on kafis by Khurshid Kamal, who wrote many famous film songs in Punjabi and his kafis were sung by many a singer who performed Sufi verses. The book launch would be coupled with a musical evening wherein singers such as A Nayyar, Asif Javed, Wahdat Rameez and Jawad Ahmed will sing kafis written by Kamal.

Pilac is also organising a musical evening with playback singer Afshan next month.

The institute recently recommended names of Shireen Masood and Baba Najmi for Pride of Performance and folk singer Shaukat Ali and artist Aslam Kamal for Sitara-i-Imtiaz.

Kamal has also been commissioned a project by Pilac to paint a mural to project the message of seven Sufi poets of Punjab, including Baba Farid, Shah Hussain, Sultan Bahu, Bulleh Shah, Waris Shah, Khawaja Ghulam Farid and Mian Muhammad Bakhsh. The mural would be displayed in the Punjab Museum. The project would be completed and launched next month.

The Lahore Arts Council is organising an evening with renowned singer Munni Begum at the Open Air Theatre Bagh-i-Jinnah on April 27. The council on Friday also held a farewell ceremony in honour of former Board of Governors (BoG) chairman Attaul Haq Qasmi, which was attended by the culture secretary, the new board Chairman Kamran Lashari and council Executive Director retired Captain Atta Muhammad Khan. Qasmi was presented bouquets by the secretary and Lashari and a shield by Khan.

Published in Dawn, April 10th, 2016