Dawn Images

If you still don’t have any plans for this weekend, the Karachi Arts Council is showcasing a two-day Kathak dance presentation, Aqsaam-e-Naach: Andaaz-e-Kathak, to showcase the discipline and grace of the dance form.

Scheduled for February 13 and 14, the performance aims to highlight the expressive depth of Kathak, one of South Asia’s most refined classical dance forms. A group of 12 dancers will perform dance pieces choreographed by Mohsin Babar, a leading choreographer and Kathak maestro, at 8pm on both evenings, bringing their years of rigorous practice and dedication towards the art form to stage.

The programme will feature eight dance pieces, presented through a combination of group compositions and solo performances, including classical Kathak repertoire as well as interpretive works such as fusion tarana, ghazal, and other stylistic variations, offering audiences a layered and immersive experience of Kathak’s range and versatility.

“One of the main aims of this show is to break the taboos surrounding dance, especially the ghungroo,” said Babar, as per a press release. “The ghungroo is simply the dancer’s instrument, just as the tabla nawaz has the tabla.”

With 27 years of experience, Babar is known for his disciplined classical practice and his ability to communicate the language of Kathak to contemporary audiences. He has dedicated his career to preserving the integrity of the form — which is increasingly at risk of fading from mainstream cultural spaces — while expanding its reach.

Through his school, Kathak School of Performing Arts, touted as the city’s first academy dedicated to Kathak, Babar offers full scholarships to deserving students who wish to learn the dance form through the lineage system but would otherwise be unable to access such training.

The dancers for this weekend’s performance are all scholarship students trained at the Kathak School of Performing Arts. These dancers represent years of rigorous practice, dedication, and immersion in the classical Kathak tradition.

The ticket for the event is priced at Rs1,500 and is available online via Townevent as well as at the venue.