LAHORE: Classical dancers in Pakistan struggle. There are few venues dedicated to their art, fewer funding sources, and little opportunity for students to learn directly from masters.
A two-day festival here attempted to solve that problem by providing a platform devoted entirely to Kathak, one of the South Asia’s oldest dance traditions.
The festival, held at the Alhamra Art Centre and Maharaj Kathak Studio, brought together established practitioners, emerging dancers and students. Organizer Maan Sayeed and co-organizer Momina Farooq Khan designed the event to address the structural challenges Kathak performers face.
"Dancers are struggling due to the absence of platforms and a permanent source of income," Maan Sayeed said while speaking to Pakistan TV Digital. "This gives them space, so young dancers can meet maestros, learn, and so the art form remains part of public conversation."
First day: Discussions and workshops
The opening day featured panels and workshops. Senior scholars and performers including Sheema Kermani, Nighat Chaudhry, Bina Jawwad, Adnan Jahangir, Ghazala Irfan and Abuzar Madhu discussed Kathak's history across the subcontinent.
They said the form should be understood as shared artistic heritage, not divided by borders into separate cultural narratives.
Conversations also addressed how to make classical arts more accessible and create sustainable platforms for dancers in Pakistan.
A second panel brought together younger practitioners. Momina Farooq Khan, Hammad Rasheed, Jessica Zakria Iqbal and Kanza Bano discussed how they entered the field and the obstacles they face building careers.
Workshops led by Sayeed, Rasheed and Sujata Banerjee allowed younger practitioners to train directly under experienced ones.
Second day: Performances
By the second day, the focus shifted to live performance. The venue filled to capacity, with crowds standing outside unable to enter.
The evening opened with student dancers followed by Hammad Rasheed, a Kathak instructor at Alhamra. Organizer Maan Sayeed and co-organizer Momina Farooq Khan also gave a graceful performance.
The program then shifted to classical music. Vocalist Akbar Aki Khan performed "Man Atkeya Beparwah De Naal," a composition by Sufi poet Shah Hussain. Flute maestro Ustad Muhammad Hanif Khan, known for blending dhrupad and khayal traditions, performed next. Bina Jawad led the ensemble Harsukhiyan with her three daughters.
Meanwhile, Sheema Kermani's performance brought the audience to a standing ovation.
Nighat Chaudhry performed last, closing the festival. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, she highlighted the importance of institutional spaces for both emerging and established artists.
"This kind of festival is important to provide platforms to young artists and for them to meet seasoned practitioners," she said. "It changes how Kathak is viewed, and even the audience becomes more informed through exposure."
