On The Hour Dance Kahaniyaan is a collaborative effort comprising of three creative films. Ki Janna Main Kon directed by Pakistani choreographer and director Wahab Shah and Kids In The Lakes by UK based dance artist Bridget Fiske along withQuoting Movements جنبش an enriching twenty-minute documentary which explores both dancers voyaging to each other’s homeland to soak in their respective dance cultures.
From Wahab Shah taking on the mantle as a temporary mentor to children in Harsukh, a dance school situated in rural Lahore, to Bridget Fisk teaching young people enrolled in Eden Dance School in Cumbria, England, both these creative films are tethered to one commonality – expression. The creative process included making a dance score and the children in both England and Pakistan allow their bodies to roam free with each rhythmic beat as they slowly undergo the process of releasing their souls to the art of dance. The viewer can readily observe this process and if they hadn’t any exposure to dance, these two creative films deliver that along with a newfound passion for the art form itself.
Then segue into the main treat of it all – Quoting Movements or جنبش itself. Where Karachi meets Bridget and where Manchester meets Wahab. In the course of the documentary, Bridget is introduced to a variety of local artists ranging fromThe Street Dreamers Crew, Suhaee Abro, NoorJehan Bilgrami and even Amna Ilyas, who’s latest performance song has officially given her the title of a dancer. Each woman regales their stories to Bridget about how some had support while others ventured into the world of dance seeking support within the community itself. With to-and-fro takes of Wahab conversing with dancers that specialize in HipHop dance as well as flamenco and many others. Glimpses of Wahab’s ear to ear smile in Manchester along with a twinkle in Bridget’s eye communicates to the viewer that their artistic spirit is enriched with each encounter. Throughout this process, we can evidently see that despite the vast differences and distances, two cultures unite through dance and it truly is heartening to witness.
On The Hour Dance Kahaniyaan was concocted by Wahab Shah himself. His aim was to bring a platform together that would inspire dancers near and far to come together to perpetuate the power of the art form. Along with the immense support of the British Arts Council and Bridget Fiske’s keen passion, On TheHour Dance Kahaniyaan grew from being a driven idea to an empowering spectrum of inspiration.
A commendable collaborative effort championed and sponsored by the British Arts Council in their latest venture PK/UK New Perspectives. The documentary is currently being showcased at LAHORE Harsukh 26th august followed by the Colony 27th august. ISLAMABAD PNCA 30th august. KARACHI September 8th. We would highly recommend to all who are dance enthusiasts as well as people with an artistic soft spot to keep a lookout for further announcements regarding screenings.
On The Hour Dance Kahaniyaan is a piece of work that we thoroughly enjoyed!!
