Renowned classical dancer Nighat Chaudhry has called for the preservation of traditional dance forms and their original techniques amidst the growing popularity of dance on social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. Speaking to the media at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), Chaudhry noted that while these platforms have changed attitudes and encouraged younger generations to express themselves, she is concerned about the potential for traditional forms to be distorted or overlooked.
Chaudhry stated that she is happy to see more young people expressing their creativity online, remarking, "Dance is life. It is an expression of a human being, regardless of the form it takes." However, she emphasized that every form has specific techniques, principles, and traditions that must be respected. She noted that artists like herself have spent nearly 40 years learning these art forms, and she believes experienced performers have a responsibility to act as ambassadors to preserve authenticity for future generations.
Chaudhry mentioned that people from countries including India have approached her through social media for guidance, which she says makes it even more important to share accurate knowledge.
The dancer discussed her upcoming performance scheduled for November 9, where she will perform alongside musician Nigel Bobby, with Saaz Rinda also providing a live performance. The program is set to feature a blend of qawwali, Sufi music, thumri, and ghazal.
Chaudhry’s career began with ballet and contemporary dance, but at age 14, she met Nahid Siddiqui, one of the greatest Kathak dancers, and began training with her. Inspired to learn the classical forms of her own culture, she abandoned ballet and moved back to Pakistan to be closer to the origins of the Indian style. She eventually became a trained Sufi & Mystique Kathak classical dancer and has been a professional for over three decades.
Her career highlights include:
1994: Performed Kathak Solo at the FTC auditorium, Karachi, launching her self-choreographed work.
1995: Accompanied then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to Turkmenistan, London, and the USA with a cultural troupe.
1995–2013: Performed at all World Performing Arts Festivals in Pakistan hosted by Rafi Peer Theatre Workshop.
2003: Performed for the Arts Council of Pakistan for the Music Committee Karachi.
2004: Performed Kathak dance at the Kodak-HRD Congress at the Serena Hotel, Islamabad.
2005: Choreographed and performed at the Lux Style Awards and TVOne Global launch show.
23 March 2005: Performed at the Presidency for President Pervez Musharraf on Pakistan Day.
2008: Performed at the Pakistan Embassy in Spain for an event called Qalandarbass.
2009: Performed for the World Population Foundation for International Mother's Night in Islamabad.
2013: Performed for PC (Pearl-Continental Hotels & Resorts) events in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar.
Additionally, Chaudhry choreographed and danced in Larkana in a ballet evoking the life of the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto on the anniversary of his death, for which she gained tremendous recognition.
