LAHORE, Feb 10: A ghazal-and-classical dance evening generated festivity and gusto at Alhamra Art Centre on Saturday night.

The evening was arranged by the Faiz Foundation with the Lahore Arts Council in connection with Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s 102 birth anniversary.

Though Faiz’s birthday falls on Feb 13, but the evening was arranged on the weekend so that people enjoyed music and dance. A mix of fine dance and poetry took place at the jam packed hall number I of Alhamra Art Centre.

The opening performance was by the students of Lahore Grammar School, Johar Town. The bright, young students beautifully danced to Faiz’s one of the popular poem – “Dashat-i-Tanahi Mein”.

The next was a performance by classical dancer Nighat Chaudhry. Her magnificent dancing to the Faiz’s verses “Hum Daikhain Gay” received a thunderous round of applause. On the insistence of the audience she reappeared on the stage after a brief gap and danced to the poem “Bahar Ayee” with famous choreographer Wahab Shah.

The evening stealer was none other than popular singer Tina Sani. Singing Faiz has become her forte. She swung open the gates of melody to a responsive audience with “Raat Yun Dil Mein Teri Khoie Hui Yaad Ayee”. Live orchestra, beautiful singing, a responsive audience and Faiz’s poetry turned the evening into a prism oozing all sorts of colours.

The next was “Nahi Nigah Mein Manzil Tu Justajoo Hee Sahi” followed by “Kab Yaad Mein Tera Sath Nahi”.

She also sung Rumi and Iqbal. She sang 17 couplets by Rumi. The flute was played by Badshah.

Saleema Hashmi thanked the audience and the friends of the Faiz Foundation for their support.