While social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have opened new avenues for self-expression and changed public attitudes toward dance, renowned classical dancer Nighat Chaudhry warns that modern trends should never eclipse traditional techniques. Speaking at the National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), the celebrated artist urged practitioners to safeguard the authenticity and deep-rooted principles of classical dance.
According to the Express Tribune, Chaudhry expressed happiness over the growing interest among young people taking to digital platforms to showcase their creativity. However, she voiced serious concern that the rapid digital expansion risks overlooking or distorting the rigorous training required for classical art forms. "Dance is life. It is an expression of a human being, regardless of the form it takes," she said, while stressing that proper technical foundations must be respected.
The Express Tribune reported that Chaudhry has spent nearly four decades learning and understanding the nuances of her craft. Having transitioned from studying ballet and contemporary dance to training under Kathak master Nahid Siddiqui after moving back to Pakistan, she views experienced performers as ambassadors responsible for protecting the art's integrity. Her extensive career includes launching self-choreographed works, representing Pakistan internationally alongside leadership figures, and performing historical ballets.
Background
According to the Express Tribune, Nighat Chaudhry began her formal training at age fourteen under the renowned Kathak exponent Nahid Siddiqui, eventually dedicating over three decades to professional Sufi and Mystique Kathak performances. Her career highlights include a 1994 solo performance at the FTC auditorium in Karachi and traveling as part of a cultural troupe to Turkmenistan, London, and the United States in 1995. She also choreographed and performed in a ballet in Larkana dedicated to the late Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto.
Why it matters
For ordinary Pakistanis and younger generations engaging with digital media, this debate highlights the balance between contemporary pop culture and historical preservation. As global audiences and individuals from neighboring countries like India seek guidance through social media, maintaining accurate knowledge ensures that traditional Pakistani cultural heritage is transmitted authentically rather than diluted.
What's next
According to the Express Tribune, Nighat Chaudhry is scheduled to perform on November 9 alongside musician Nigel Bobby, featuring a live performance by Saaz Rinda in a programme blending ghazal, thumri, Sufi music, and qawwali.