LAHORE: Noted Kathak dancer Nighat Chaudhry along with dancers Wahab Shah and Waqar Samrat are launching a video titled, ‘Kathak Union’ in connection with International Dance Day which will be celebrated internationally on April 29.

The video will be launched on April 29 on social media featuring Nighat Chaudhry, Wahab Shah and Waqar Samrat. It will be the first of its kind video being launched from the platform of Kathak dancers in collaboration with Karachi Arts Council.

Ms Chaudhry while throwing light on the video said, “ We are excited to announce the release of ‘Kathak Union’ on International Dance Day. The video is a celebration of the Samrat family’s legacy in preserving the Samrat Gharana of Kathak, a rich and vibrant form of dance. The collaboration between established dancers Nighat Chaudhry, Wahab Shah, and Waqar Samrat, aims to pay tribute to the Samrat family’s contribution to Kathak dance.” The video showcases the beauty and complexity of Kathak dance, with music composed by the late Ustad Umer Daraz and choreographed by Waqar Samrat. It was filmed at the Karachi Arts Council and created through intensive training workshops at the Wahab Shah Dance Company.

“We are grateful to arts council president Ahmed Shah for his support in making this project possible. We hope that this video will inspire a renewed appreciation for the cultural heritage of Kathak dance and the Samrat family’s legacy”, She added.

The International Dance Day is a worldwide event that celebrates all genres of dance. It is celebrated annually on April 29. It was created by the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute - the world’s largest organisation for the performing arts. The occasion also aims to bring together people of different cultures, and respects and understands diversity.

The first International Dance Day was celebrated in 1982, and had been taking place on April 29 since then.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2023