ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON YOULIN MAGAZINE
Co-Founded by Saad Sheikh, The Colony has singlehandedly championed the resurgence of dance shows through its unique Musical Theatre company called Sway Dance Project. What has become a groundbreaking collective of young and ambitious aspiring dancers, choreographers, art directors and actors completed their 5-day dance show featuring the epic love story of Pakeeza. Sheikh wrote and directed the theatrical production that took less than a month from its conceptualisation, to the first curtain call on 1st February 2023. His academic roots began studying film and navigating script writing and direction during his undergraduate tenure at the National College of Arts. When he entered the world of modern dance in Istanbul, Turkey, he trained in the Martha Graham technique that has stylisation elements of ballet. His journey into musical theatre started in Beirut, Lebanon, where he could freely combine elements from film, theatre and dance into one practice, laying the foundation for what would become The Colony on his return to Pakistan.
Speaking to Sheikh about initiating Sway Dance Project in Lahore, he shared that the dance company was started with only two people, but has now grown to a strength of 170 members. Right after completing Pakeeza, the group will be immersed in their next production with 220 participants. Talking about establishing inclusivity within the community, Sheikh spoke about how the dancers come from all kinds of backgrounds with a shared passion for dance, which signals how The Colony hopes to break preconceived stereotypes and reverse the indignification of dancing. The interpretation of Pakeeza by Sheikh is a quirky comedy packed with slapstick jousting, subversive comparisons between the original characters from the film’s story, and metaphysical analogies created by the director. Each performance night witnessed a full house of audiences eager to experience the rush and thrill of modern dance, infused with iconic music from romantic cinema classics.
The main hall of The Colony was transformed by the cinematic set design of Hashim Ali, who also plays the role of Chaudhry in the play. The costumes captured the old-world charm and elegance as seen in the original film, with delicate drapery and flowing fabrics by the fashion designer Zara Shahjahan. The opening dance sequences by Uzma Ashraf, who plays Nargis, open the show with an emotional performance setting in place of the impending tragedy. Iram Sana, former Director Development & Planning and Co-founder of OLOMOPOLO Media (2013-2021) is seen as Azra, who remained a steadfast presence providing a sense of interconnectedness as the story unfolds. The story’s main protagonist, Pakeeza, is played by Fatima Amjed, an integral part of The Colony’s previous showcasing. She is a charming bright light throughout her performance, capturing the hearts of audience with her gymnastic endurance and energy. Her love interest, Haider, is played by Ismail Kayani who was instantly likeable, and their chemistry was evident till the very end of the story.
The elegant interpretation of Umrao Jan by Kanza Bano was a delight to watch, as she embodied the formalist uniformity of classical dance in her performance. Her expressions were visceral and authentic each time she was on the stage. Sheikh’s Pakeeza brought together multiple storylines running parallel, where some found their happy ending while others remained unable to overcome their tragic destiny. The effort and resilience of these multiple ensemble pieces, where 5 to 10 dancers were on stage at a time, proved to be a challenge that The Colony fearlessly accepted. This, despite having begun rehearsing only a few weeks before the opening night. The entire show ran for over 2 hours, with only a 10-minute break, almost like a feature film presentation. The creation of the metaphysical characters named Maara, Luan, Maeen and Zitt played by Manal Amer Khan, Abdullah Ghazanfar, Taimoor Nizamani and Ramiz Law, provided comedic relief, as their interactive presence provided laughter and pause to the story. The original story of Pakeeza was deconstructed to present the realism behind the fairy tale ending, and it is a reflection on the hypocritical and patriarchal structures locked into its characters.
The ambitious undertaking by Director Saad Shaikh was supported by Associate Directors Muaz Khan, Faizan Batalvi, Bibi Hajra and Hamna along with Umar Ali and Joshwa Javaid on sound. As one unified team, The Colony has established itself as a safe haven for dance projects to be conceptualised and developed under one roof. Their passion for dance as an art form has brought young artists together, so that they can freely express themselves and showcase their talents. The philosophy for pioneering dance as a medium of self-expression resonates with the youth of today, who are looking for a public platform to congregate and exchange ideas about creativity and art. The audience turnout for these performances indicates that the city appreciates the musical theatre scene and The Colony’s creative endeavour.
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