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>>>Legends of Performing Arts
 
>>> Music In Pakistan
 
>>> Musical Instruments
 
>>> Dances
 
>>> Theatre
 
 

This division looks after the promotion of performing arts which include music, dance, drama, puppetry and allied popular arts. It supports grass roots development of arts for children. The division also looks after the welfare of the artists. It regularly arranges functions on classical, semi-classical folk singing, while introducing artists from different and far-flung regions of the country. Renowned vocalists and instrumentalists are invited to perform. It also has a valuable collection of classical, semi-classical, instrumental vocal, ghazals, qawalis and national songs by the great maestros of the country. The Division also looks after National Puppet Theatre, National Repertory Theater, and Children Workshop etc.

 
LEGENDS OF PERFORMING ARTS

 

~~~~ Music In Pakistan ~~~~ ....

< Pop >
 
<<< Classical Vocalists >>>

 


 

 
Ustad Ghulam Hussain Shaggan

Khayal singer, representative of Gavaliar Gharana. Disciple of his father Ustad Bhai Lal Muhammad (Late). Participated in many reputed music conferences of Indo Pakistan.

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Ustad Fateh Ali Khan

Famous Radio, Television and Stage artist. Son of Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan (Late). Grandson of Ustad Ali Bukhsh Khan Gernail (Late). Disciple of his father Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan (Late).

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Malika-e-Mosiqui Roshan Ara Begum (Late)

Madam Roshan Ara Begum was the best female classical vocalist of the Khayal, Thumri, and Dadra in the sub continent. Recieved priliminary music education from Ustad Luddan Khan. Diciple of Ustad Abdul Karim Khan of Kerana gharana.

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Salamat Ali Khan



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Asad Amanat Ali and Hamid Ali Khan

Representatives of Patiyala Gharana. Asad is disciple of his grandfather Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan (Late), his father Amanat Ali Khan (Late) and his Uncle Ustad Fateh Ali Khan. Hamid is youngest son and disciple of Ustad Akhtar Hussain Khan (Late).

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<<< Semi Classical Vocalists >>>

 


 

 
Farida Khanam

Radio, Television, Stage and Film artist. Singer of Thumri, Ghazal and Geet. Disciple of Ustad Ashiq Ali Khan (Late) of Patiyala.

 


 

 
Ghulam Ali

Popular Radio, Television, Stage and Film artist. Equally popular in India. Disciple of Ustad Barkat Ali Khan (Late) and Ustad Amanat Ali Khan (Late).

 


 

 
Iqbal Bano

Semi classical and light vocalist. Thumri, Dadra, Kafi, Ghazal and geet singer. Radio, Television, Stage and Film artist.Disciplae of Chand Khan Dehli Walay and Ustad Karim Khan.

 


 

 
Mehdi Hassan

Popular Radio, Television, Stage and Film artist. Thumri, Ghazal, Geet singer. Disciple of Ustad Azim Khan (Late).

 


 

 
Madam Noor Jehan (Late)

Madam Noor Jehan is one of those few personalities, who became legend in their life time. She was the most popular singer in Pakistan and India. She had offered voluntary services for national songs in 1965 and 1971 wars.

 

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<<< Qawali >>>

 


 

 
Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Late)

Globally known artist, eldest son of legendary Qawal, Ustad Fateh Ali Khan (Late) Qawal Jallender Walay.Disciple of his father and uncle, Ustad Mubarak Ali Khan (Late) and Nawazish Ali Khan. An internationally popular name in megistic singing.

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Ghulam Fareed Sabri (Late)

Vocalist (Qawal) leader of Qawal party. Radio, Television, Stage and Film artist. Disciple of Ustad Haji Latafat Hussain Khan of Rampur.

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Aziz Mian Qawal

Aziz Mian was born in Delhi. He received sixteen years of training at the Data Ganj Baksh School in Lahore. Aziz Mian holds M.S. Degrees from Punjab University, Lahore, in History and Urdu Literature.

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<<< Folk >>>

 


 

 
Arif Lohar

Radio, Television and Stage artist. Also sung few songs for Punjabi films. Son of legendary folk singer Alam Lohar (Late).

 


 

 
Attah Ullah Khan

Radio, Television and Film artist. Popular light and Punjabi folk singer.

 


 

 
Allan Faqir (Late)

Disciple of his father Dain Ali. Also learned from Syed Ghulam Shah.

 


 

 
Reshman

Radio, Television, Stage and Film artist. Vocalist of light and folk music (Ghazal, Geet).

 


 

 
Zar Sanga

Pushto folk singer. Radio and Television artist. A gipsy singer of Marwat. Tribal area of (N.W.F.P). Disciple of Mola Jan.

 

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<<< Pop>>>

 


 

 
Abrab-ul-Haq

Abrar-ul-Haq, is a hot favorite in Pakistan and one of Punjab's greatest assets in the modern age music field. After having taught at Lahore's Aitchison College, Abrar decided to try his hands in the entertainment industry.

 


 

 
Shehzad Roy

Shehzad Roy is favorite in Pakistan and one of greatest assets in the modern age music field.

 


 

 
Fariha Pervaiz

With a strong, energetic voice and a clear passion for music, Fariha Pervaiz makes greater waves with every subsequent track.

 


 

 
Hadiqa Kiyani

Hadiqa started off as a 'background singer', and then slowly moved into the pop music scene. After VJing a successful music countdown on television she set out to make waves with her melodious voice, and smash hit singles.

 

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~~~~ Musical Instruments ~~~~...
< Dhol >
      < Rabab>
 
<<< Flute >>>

 


 

 
Flute

Flute made of bamboo is considered one of the most ancient instrument in the world. In Pakistan, flute ranges from twelve to thirty five inches in length. The instrument carries one blowing and one playing holes.

 

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<<< Tabla >>>

 


 

 
Tabla

It is generally believe that Tabla was invented by Amir Khusrro. Tabla is a most popular and important rhythm instrument of Pakistan. Tabla actually is a two piece wooden drum set, hallowed from inside. Drum played with right is known as DAYAN and the left hand drum is known as BAYAN. Skinned top of both drum is covered with goat skin with a black circle of two inches in dia in the middle known as SIYAHI. Siyahi is mean to control vibrations and to produce different sounds.

 

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<<< Santoor >>>

 


 

 
Santoor

The Santoor is a string instrument with thirty six strings grouped in. Twos and played by being struck with two wands. It is played in many countries (including the Arab countries) with different forms of the instruments and different playing styles in different countries. However, it is very popular in Kashmir and is known as the “Kashmiri saaz”.

 

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<<< Harmonium >>>

 


 

 
Harmonium

Harmonium is a keyboard instrument. There are thin metal tongues which vibrates with steady current of air by pressing below. A Harmonium is three octave keyboard, lower, middle and higher octave. This instrument was introduced in early 19th century. In Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal, Harmonium is very much popular for solo singing and qawali.

 

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<<< Tanpura >>>

 


 

 
Tanpura

The long necked tanpura is an essential instrument of lute family, which provide drone for instrumental and vocal classical and semi classical music. Tanpura has a sound box, made of big dried below Pumpkin.

 

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<<< Dhol >>>

 


 

 
Dhol

The DHOL (drum), made from a hollowed out piece of tree trunk and covered at both ends with goatskin. It is played with two beaters, one heavier than the other. One of the original uses of the dhol was to send messages over long distances, and in certain areas of Punjab, farmers work in the fields still request particular kinds of food and drinks from their wives by means of the dhol.

 

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<<< Shenai >>>

 


 

 
Shenai

The SHENAI an oboe-style instrument made from wood with a reed mouthpiece. In the hands of a master like Bismillah Khan, the piercing sound of the shenai can stir the emotions, and has been doing so since its origin in Persia in the early 8th century.

 

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<<< Rabab >>>

 


 

 
Rabab

The RABAB, gut strings are played with the plectrum and the sympathetic resonating strings are made from metal.

 

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<<< Sitar >>>

 


 

 
Sitar

The sitar has between 7 to 20 strings including 7 main playing strings, which are stretched over a hollow tun or teak wood neck, on to which curved nickel-silver frets are tied. The face of the instrument is carved of wood and attached to a large gourd. It may or may not have a smaller gourd attached to top of the neck. It is played with a wire plectrum or mizrab which fits over the forefinger. The word chimta, comes from Mongolian chimr, meaning iron.

 

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~~~~ Dances ~~~~.....
 
<<< Classical Dance >>>

 


 

 
Maharaj Ghulam Hussain (Late)

Choreographer and Classical teacher. Disciple of Acchan Maharaj. Member of Governing Body Punjab Atrs Council. Incharge Dance Acadamy, Alhamra Atrs Council.

 


 

 
Sheema Kirmani

Sheema is graduate in Fine Arts, from Croyden College of Arts London, stepped in the field of classical dance. When she was fifteen, she started dancing.She participated in the ballets and had performed solo performances.

 


 

 
Nighat Chaudry

Though born in Lahore, she spent the formative years of her life in England where she did the foundation courses and contemporary dancing at the Laban center. Her thrust for improvement took her to Delhi on a scholarship.

 


 

 
Naheed Siddiqui

Naheed began training as a dancer at the age of fifteen later for a classical dancer. Her original Maharaj Ghulam Hussain Kathak, one of the finest exponents of the Lucknow school of Kathak.

 


 

 
Fasih-ur-Rehman

Fasih-ur-Rehman is a Kathak dancer. He stepped into the world of classical dancing at the age of ten under the tutelar of Maharaj Ghulam Hussain. For him dancing is a passion and he makes no secret of it.

 

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<<< Folk and Regional Dance >>>

 


 

 
SINDH

          Jhoomer Dance

The Sindhi Jhoomer dance is performed by village girls to celebrate a good harvest. Dressed in their swirling full skirted costumers and silver jewellery they are joined by boys who sing a popular song 'Hojamalo'.



 


 

 
          Dandia Dance

From the soil of the Tharparkar distrist in Sindh comes the Dandia (stick) dance. Boys and girls with lacquered sticks in hand swing to the beat of the drum and produce an interesting mix of rhythms as they clap their sticks together.

 


 

 
          Ho-jamalo Dance

This dance is from Sindh performed to Ho-jamalo, one of the most popular folk songs of Pakistan. It celebrates the gallantry of the 18th century warrior, "Jamal Khan Rind", who defended his homeland from foreign invaders. Tales of his courage spread from village to village. The song describes Jamalo as ten feet tall with flashing red eyes.

 


 

 
BALUCHISTAN

          Do-Chapi Dance

This is danced with hand clapping, based on varying ehythmic patterns, gradually mounting to a crescendo, The Do-Chapi dance is typical of the rugged Baluchis, and generally performed by men in the interior of Baluchistan.

 


 

 
          Leva Dance

The traditional Leva danced by men is a common feature at weddings and other happy occasions in the tribal society of the Baluchis. This dance has a hypnotic beat and an evocative rhythm.

 


 

 
          Fishermen's Dance

A hardy and cheerful people, the fishermen from the coast of Makran in Baluchistan set out in their boats before sunrise and return home at sunset with a rich haul. This dance captures the rhythm of the fishermen's life.

 


 

 
PUNJAB

          Bhangra Dance

Typical of the colour and vigour of the Punjab, the Bhangra is rooted in the soil. Spurred on by the beat of the drum, and the rhythm of the 'Chimta'(a pair of tongs used to rake coals), girla and boys dance with abondon, secure in the knowledge that the harvest is good.

 


 

 
          Luddi Dance

A popular feature of wedding celebrations in Pakistan is the Luddi danced by women friends and family members of the bride. This dance originated in the Punjab but has now becomean integral part of weddings throughout Pakistan.

 


 

 
N.W.F.P

          Khattak Dance