Episode Notes

Bio Nighat ji has been a Kathakar for four decades training under my under great masters. Her main gurus include Ustad Nahid Siddiqui, Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak, Pandit Durga Lal, and Guru Pali Chandra. She's also done intensive workshops with Uma Dogra ji, Srimati Saswati Sen, Srimati Kumudini Lakshia, and Pandit Buju Maharaj. Nighat Chaofhry is one of the primary exponents of Kathak in Pakistan and has made it her mission in life to grow the art there. Links to Social Media

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nighat_Chaudhry_(classical_dancer) https://www.facebook.com/nighatchaodhryofficial https://www.linkedin.com/in/nighat-chaodhry-2abb0021/?originalSubdomain=pk https://www.instagram.com/nighatchaodhryofficial/

Timestamps

0:00:56 History of Kathak in Pakistan 0:01:17 Perception of Kathak in Pakistan 0:02:48 Ban of Dance by the British 0:05:12 Early Pioneers 0:07:11 Impacts of cinema on Kathak 0:10:20 Effect of Youtube 0:10:37 Effect of dance ban: Early days in Pakistan 0:11:47 No Objection Certificate 0:13:08 Starting Kathak in Pakistan 0:14:17 Realisation that Dance was banned in Pakistan 0:16:24 Revolution and Poetry 0:16:57 Threats and Phone Calls 0:18:09 Socially Charged performances: Kursi and Purdah 0:20:36 End of Martial Law, Benazir Bhutto 0:22:36 initial reception 0:25:32 Okay, burn it! 0:26:06 House Attacked 0:30:12 confronting 0:33:12 Being confronted in Dubai 0:34:46 Studying about central asian and persian influence on Kathak 0:35:58 Influences on Kathak from other cultures 0:37:19 Kathak as the National Dance of Pakistan 0:37:49 What's unique about kathak in Pakistan 0:40:13 Dhamaal 0:42:32 The importance of vibration and Energy 0:46:08 Spreading a message 0:48:15 Audience Reception 0:55:30 CCOP: Cultural Custodians of Pakistan 0:55:48 Nighat Chaudhry Foundation 0:57:13 Teaching Practice 1:00:51 What to look for in a guru 1:07:54 Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak 1:10:47 Thehrav 1:19:19 Future of Kathak in Pakistan 1:20:54 The importance of having a syllabus 1:24:48 Lahore Gharana 1:25:41 Acceptance of the Lahore Gharana