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Dance classes are taking over Islamabad. Here's why

Dance classes are taking over Islamabad. Here's why

“Some come because they want to learn dances for a wedding and others see dancing as a way to keep fit,” said a trainer
26 Feb, 2017

In the absence of a formal school for performing arts in Islamabad, a few dancing academies are filling the void and are offering classes in various forms of dances including classical and hip-hop.

Some of the academies have been established by well-known professional dancers.

However, the number of students enrolled is still very low. Many of those who have started classes have learned classical dance from Indu Mitha, a well known classical dancer and most of the students in these classes are foreigners.

Nestled in between two business outlets on Jinnah Avenue, Studio-8 offers classes in salsa, Bollywood dancing, Zumba as well as yoga. Most of the students are women, though some men have also enrolled. Students are first asked to do warm-up exercises and are then taught new steps for the day in the hour-long classes.

A dance class in progress
A dance class in progress

“Some of the students come because they want to learn some dances for a wedding and others see dancing as a way to keep fit,” said Syed Faizan Ahab, a trainer at the academy.

He said the trend in Karachi and Lahore for hiring choreographers for weddings has not yet come to Islamabad which is why dancing classes are convenient for those with upcoming weddings.

Mr Ahab said he has been teaching dance lessons since 2009 and also works at the French Club in the Diplomatic Enclave. Syed Faizan Ahab teaches bollywood dancing at Studio-8. He said bollywood dancing is more popular with people because they can perform the dances they learn in weddings as well.

Faizan Ahab leads students during a practice session. — Photos by Tanveer Shahzad
Faizan Ahab leads students during a practice session. — Photos by Tanveer Shahzad

Mr Ahab said he is a self-taught dancer and has received basic training in Lahore as well.

“Dancing is also a good way to lose weight and keep fit. It helps reduce stress and improves blood circulation,” he said.

A student at the academy, Roomi Hunzai said the dances in his local Hunza were slower and that he had to work hard at his dancing to keep up with the more fast pace dancing styles taught at the academy.

“I joined the academy to keep fit and not because I wanted to learn dances for a wedding,” said Mishaal Ahmed, a student at the studio.


Originally published in Dawn, February 26th, 2017

Comments

IMTIAZ ALI KHAN Feb 26, 2017 10:05am
Dance a human expression centuries old. Amazing, so happy to hear this. Keep up the good work Isb.
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Q E D - USA Feb 26, 2017 10:56am
Please watch some Korean Videos (South Korean) and learn from that.
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NAS Feb 26, 2017 10:59am
Feeling proud reading about these courageous choreographers in Pakistan.
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Intel Feb 26, 2017 11:21am
Nice to see new culture in Pakistan. Women can dance freely without caring social stigma. This is the New Pakistan we need!!
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Dr. K B Huzen Feb 26, 2017 11:57am
Awesome guys... looks great
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Mujtaba Feb 26, 2017 12:54pm
Very Good. We need more dancing schools all over Pakistan.
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RS Feb 26, 2017 01:10pm
Good exercise.
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Keep the spirits up Feb 26, 2017 01:25pm
It's terrific and lovely that people still care and learn arts which I was able to see and enjoy a decade ago. It's hard to hear any good news except religiosity in every single thing in recent years.
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Nasir Feb 26, 2017 01:40pm
Just what Pakistan needed!
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madhusudan Feb 26, 2017 01:44pm
Pakistanis are cute.
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naji Feb 26, 2017 02:26pm
What a wonderful progress in our society after fashion dress design show, Cat Walk show and now dance training.
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VIN Feb 26, 2017 02:57pm
Bollywood dances are based on Natya Sastra and are against TNT.
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Adil Jadoon Feb 26, 2017 03:37pm
"It helps reduce stress and improves blood circulation" sounds reasonable but does he have any evidence to prove this???? Also he should be properly attired if he teaching a dance class
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Ayesha Feb 26, 2017 04:38pm
When in Sialkot?
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muskan Feb 26, 2017 07:43pm
I also want to join this it's looking great
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khan Feb 26, 2017 10:11pm
And when you people are going to learn how to live a decent and civilised life??? When??
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komal Feb 26, 2017 10:59pm
can someone tell me how can I join this session and when they are going to start their classes?
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komal Feb 26, 2017 11:02pm
can someone tell me when its going to start?
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Saba Feb 27, 2017 09:44am
If only Islamabad were really a part of Pakistan. Salsa , Zumba , Yoga etc. , who in g-ds name has money for this. Not against dancing but this isn't about dancing , it's about the rich wasting money on stupid things. Want to lose weight , get out of your car and run 2 km everyday.
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Mohammed Cohen Feb 27, 2017 01:19pm
The idea of dance classes is a good one but it must be based on particular aspects of social behavior that is based on Pakistan's social-cultural behavior without imitating the demoralizing social engineering of Bollywood that is being designed in Hollywood and TelAviv. Pakistan must undertake all creative aspects of developments but be mindful of not copying the destructive elements of the West specially engineered to demoralize the youth through glamor, fame and money!
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Saba Feb 27, 2017 03:40pm
@Mohammed Cohen Hollywood and Tel Aviv ? Where do you get these ideas from ? Neo Liberal Capitalism is the cause of cultural genocide not Hollywood/Tel Aviv etc
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IMRAN Feb 28, 2017 02:02am
Its good we have to learn
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IMRAN Feb 28, 2017 02:03am
Its very good for us we will be became fit
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Roy Paxton Feb 28, 2017 04:10am
@Adil Jadoon : Run for 10 minutes, Mr. Jadoon, and you will have PLENTY of PROOF!
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Roy Paxton Feb 28, 2017 04:13am
@Adil Jadoon : By the way, Mr. Jadoon, M.r Ahab's "proper" dance -teacher attire should be a Bee hive of a beard, Salwar Kameez, and definitely an ethnic turban!
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Roy Paxton Feb 28, 2017 04:19am
@Saba : I BET you love to watch others dancing ! But they are not CLASSY like you!
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Roy Paxton Feb 28, 2017 04:21am
@Mohammed Cohen : It's bed time for you fake Mr. Cohen! Turkish dance is more suited to you. Or, try a little whirling! It's graceful!
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Mehkan Feb 28, 2017 08:00am
this is awesome!!!! love it whenever there are all these awesome initiatives.. live, laugh and enjoy! much positivity to you all and especially the ones behind this initiative. somewhere, pakistan was becoming morose, and too serious, and we were almost forgetting that life is also about the light and lively moments.. love this initiative.. stay blessed! :D
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Ali Feb 28, 2017 04:55pm
Renaissance of culture!
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anil sahu Mar 01, 2017 04:13pm
@Q E D - USA why indian dance is bad?
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Chris Roberts Mar 02, 2017 01:17am
Of course, this is not everyone's cup of tea, but it can be really enjoyable and beneficial to do this type of exercise in the company of other people. It turns exercise into a much needed recreational and social activity. "You gotta move to the music!"
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