<p>The sound of the 'ghungroo' reverberated in the Islamabad air as a young Pakistani dancer performed the classical dance form Bharatnatyam, a very uncommon sight here in the country.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Amna Mawaz has been learning the dance for 14 years under the tutelage of an Indian teacher Indu Chatterjee who is settled in the capital after marrying a Pakistani military officer decades ago.<br /><br />"I love this dance. When we started, there were 20 girls. Now only I am left and rest have either moved out or had stopped learning," Mawaz said.<br /><br />While her parents were supportive, her friends were not that lucky.<br /><br />"Dance is not seen by any as a good choice and while they learn as children, parents pull them out once they reach a certain age," she told PTI.<br /><br />Mawaz's in-laws however are still not aware that she performs. Mawaz gave a mesmerising performance on this Sunday at Kuch Khaas here under the banner 'Pakistan for All'.<br /><br />"My husband was very apprehensive before marriage and wanted me to quit as his family is a bit traditional. I put my foot down and he relented," she said as her husband smiled along.<br /><br />Waqas Khalid, her husband, now accompanies her on performances.<br /><br />Under the banner of Zia-ul-Haq's Islamisation, many began regarding many of the arts, as haraam.<br /><br />The dreaded Taliban too have banned such dances.<br /><br />While Amna retains the original gestures and movements from the dance form, she uses Hindustani Music as well as Urdu poems.<br /> <br />For any Indian diplomat, the performance was a shocker. Never before had he ever seen a Bharatnatyam performance in Pakistan.<br /><br />Besides the classical dance, Pakistani band 'Laal' left the audience, comprising of many youngsters, writers and expats, mesmerised.<br /><br />Lead Singer Taimur Rehman, also a professor at Punjab university and political activist, left the audience dancing on their feet with his brilliant music and raw energy.<br /><br />"It is great to have such an evening. Pakistan has so much to offer," said Aliya, a fan of Rehman</p>
<p>The sound of the 'ghungroo' reverberated in the Islamabad air as a young Pakistani dancer performed the classical dance form Bharatnatyam, a very uncommon sight here in the country.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Amna Mawaz has been learning the dance for 14 years under the tutelage of an Indian teacher Indu Chatterjee who is settled in the capital after marrying a Pakistani military officer decades ago.<br /><br />"I love this dance. When we started, there were 20 girls. Now only I am left and rest have either moved out or had stopped learning," Mawaz said.<br /><br />While her parents were supportive, her friends were not that lucky.<br /><br />"Dance is not seen by any as a good choice and while they learn as children, parents pull them out once they reach a certain age," she told PTI.<br /><br />Mawaz's in-laws however are still not aware that she performs. Mawaz gave a mesmerising performance on this Sunday at Kuch Khaas here under the banner 'Pakistan for All'.<br /><br />"My husband was very apprehensive before marriage and wanted me to quit as his family is a bit traditional. I put my foot down and he relented," she said as her husband smiled along.<br /><br />Waqas Khalid, her husband, now accompanies her on performances.<br /><br />Under the banner of Zia-ul-Haq's Islamisation, many began regarding many of the arts, as haraam.<br /><br />The dreaded Taliban too have banned such dances.<br /><br />While Amna retains the original gestures and movements from the dance form, she uses Hindustani Music as well as Urdu poems.<br /> <br />For any Indian diplomat, the performance was a shocker. Never before had he ever seen a Bharatnatyam performance in Pakistan.<br /><br />Besides the classical dance, Pakistani band 'Laal' left the audience, comprising of many youngsters, writers and expats, mesmerised.<br /><br />Lead Singer Taimur Rehman, also a professor at Punjab university and political activist, left the audience dancing on their feet with his brilliant music and raw energy.<br /><br />"It is great to have such an evening. Pakistan has so much to offer," said Aliya, a fan of Rehman</p>