KARACHI: In a strong reaction to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf MPA Khurram Sher Zaman’s letter written to the provincial ministry of education in which he had requested to ban teaching of dance in schools, Tehreek-i-Niswan and civil society members held a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Friday afternoon.

Highlighting the importance of dance, Sheema Kermani said we knew that anyone who in present-day environment opposed dance which forces they were trying to reinforce or weaken. Clearing ‘misconceptions’ about the art form, she said it’s an important part of education. She said it’s not just recreation (though recreation too was important) and not just an art form (though it is an important art form), dance was the pulse of society. She said: “Any society which does not have dance is a dead society.” She reasoned dance probably started when man descended on earth. She said everything was in motion, and everything had its own rhythm and melody.

Ms Kermani said when a child was born the first thing that doctors checked was whether the child’s pulse was fine. She said it (pulse) had a rhythm. “Dance is inherent,” she said. When human beings began to cultivate harvest, she said, they started a collective labour activity, and this activity had its own rhythm, because if it’s in rhythm then it would become enjoyable. “Dance is part of our daily lives, part of everyday work and it is totally related to us,” she said. And this collective labour activity was named ‘folk’ dance, she said.

Ms Kermani said when societies were being formed dance was a means of social communication. It was the mechanism to pass on knowledge, she said. Gradually, she said, when man accumulated further knowledge classical dance came into being. It was an elaborate system of communication, she said. It’s even a means of social change, she said. The artifacts found in the world, including in Moenjodaro and Harrappa, had to do with dance, because these were developed societies, she said. This is why it’s our culture, our history, and if it’s finished, what would remain, she asked.

Ms Kermani said scientists had found out that mind and body coordinations were taught through dance. It’s a discipline and when children were taught that, they turned out to be balanced, healthy and more humane. She said a new discovery was that “Dance is a language of physical exercise that sparks new brain cells.” Dance helped people — children, women, human beings — and helped them understand their identities. She said dance could also be used to understand history and geography. She said her group went to different parts of Karachi to perform plays and never a common Pakistani had told them that “don’t do this, it’s a bad thing”. She said until girls found confidence and dignity in their bodies, they would not be able to muster courage to fight everyday oppression in their lives. She said we must open our imagination.

Ms Kermani said people who were of her generation would never forget that in 1988, after the cultural repression of Gen Ziaul Haq ended, how happy they were. They expressed their happiness by dancing on the roads and streets of Karachi. She said: “We do not give anyone the right to stop dance. Who is this person representing? Does he represent us, the citizens of Karachi? No, he does not.”

Simi Khan said we did not want a local Shiv Sena to tell us what to shut down and what to keep doing. This was a dangerous path, she said.

Hoori Noorani said though it was a cliché to say ‘dance is food for the soul’, it was true.

Laila Khan raised the question when we would stop demonising dance. She said dance gave dignity to women.

Qurat Mirza said as a peace and social activist she stood shoulder to shoulder with Ms Kermani.

Rumana Husain said when her daughter was young, she had confidence issues; but learning how to dance helped her gain confidence.

Replying to a question, Ms Kermani said there was a difference between reacting to a statement and a letter sent to a ministry.

Published in Dawn, October 15th, 2016