Share this story!            

‘Promotion of theatre and dance may help thwart terror’

By Fawad Ali Shah

KARACHI: Professor Kanta Kochhar-Lindgren, an associate professor at the University of Washington, Bothell and a performer, dancer, choreographer and producer, feels that dance is a global heritage and can be used to bring cultural harmony in the world.

“The growth of theatre and dance schools can help tackle terrorism in the country,” opined the professor who teaches subjects like ‘performance and healing’ in her university.

Kanta believes that theatre and dance provide a powerful means for framing multiple perspectives on pressing issues and for achieving a renewed sense of an inclusive cultural community.

She is presently visiting Karachi to deliver lectures on art, theater and dance. She also directed a play in collaboration with Pakistani artists.

Kanta suggests that dance cures many diseases and provide relief to the depressed.

“The promotion of theatre and dance can heal the oppressed souls in the war-torn NWFP and help bring piece to that region,” she said.

The professor, who did her PhD from the New York University in performance studies, is impressed with the growth of art schools in Karachi.

“I visited the National Academy of Performing Arts and the Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, and I was impressed by the history of establishment of these schools and the way they are polishing talent in the country,” Kanta said.

She, however, expressed concern over the low number of art and dance schools in Pakistan, saying the number of such schools is not up to par with the needs of the country. Kanta said that the international community should help establish such schools in Pakistan and also start cultural exchange programmes so that Pakistani artists, especially youngsters, could be trained.

The professor said modern dance is a blend of Western and Indian dance and that is the reason why it carries an international touch.

She said as modern dance has roots in the Indian culture, many artists opt for learning classical dance even in modern times.

The founding director of the Empty Suitecase Theater Company, Kanta is also the author of ‘Hearing the Difference’.

The professor revealed she started teaching the course of ‘Garbage as an art’ in her university. The theme does not seem interesting to many but actually it is very deep and an interesting one, she believes. The professor thinks that according to the research done by academicians in her country, garbage is a reflection of many social and cultural norms.

“Garbage reveals the anthropology and archaeology of a particular geographic location,” said Kanta.

She said if investigated, it can tell us about the habits of the people of a particular area. It also shows what is important for the locality of a particular area and what is not.

“Some people search dumpsters in their localities, and search if someone has thrown something important there...it’s an interesting and important subject,” she said with a giggle.

Kanta hopes to visit Pakistan again after the completion of her current assignment and work with Pakistani artists.

Home | Karachi

Share this story!