LAHORE: A night dedicated to dance and music at the Alhamra Art Centre on Friday featured a host of dancers who performed not only classical dances, but also a fusion of modern and traditional.

The dance and music extravaganza was organised by the Lahore Arts Council in connection with the Pakistan Day celebrations, and also to pay tribute to ace classical dancer Zareen Sulaiman Panna, who worked as a choreographer with the council.

Addressing a huge gathering of dance and music enthusiasts, the host of the evening, Lahore Arts Council Executive Director retired Capt Atta Muhammad Khan, said the council always tried to organise functions which featured touching performances. Ages ago dance was a way of storytelling which was later supported by language. He held Zareen Panna in high esteem for her valuable services to the silver screen as well as classical dance.

The stage was not decorated for a change, which some people in the audience noticed. “The stage should have been aesthetically decorated since over 20 dancers were performing,” Zara Ahmed from audience shared her views.

Tariq Rauf, another spectator, said amidst the prevalent security situation, such events were no less than a respite.

The fist performance was a Sufi dance to ‘Tu kuja mann kuja’ by a bunch of dancers and the audience generously appreciated the performers. Next up was a solo performance by a young dancer Nayab, who twirled and swayed almost with perfection and in a rhythm to the theme song of TV play Humsafar. The fusion of modern and traditional forms made young audience members stand up and dance.

Amir Khusro’s ‘Sakal ban phool rahi sarson’ by a group of dancers was loudly applauded. Some more Sufi, kathak and fusion dances to a live orchestra were performed to popular ghazals and Sufi verses, including ‘Dhoondo gay agar mulkon mulkon’ and ‘Aaj rang hai’.

Zareen Panna while talking to Dawn thanked the arts council for organising the evening, saying it was a great opportunity to perform for young and seasoned dancers.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2017