Sehar Tariq
There is dancing on the streets of Pakistan. In markets, in malls and in restaurants, groups of young people are breaking out into dance. And it’s wonderfully choreographed and spectacularly synchronized. But what are we dancing for when there is so little to be happy about?
The dancing is part of Coca Cola’s new advertising campaign in Pakistan. The phenomenon is called a flash mob and has been used a marketing gimmick in Western countries but I believe is being done for the first time in Pakistan. The company has hired groups of young people both boys and girls (yes girls too!) to dance to the new coca cola jingle in crowded public places.
It begins with one person breaking out into dance and strategically positioned “onlookers†joining in. Towards the end there are about ten people dancing. The dancers seem to be in their twenties and urban middle class youth, probably belonging to the more privileged segments of society given their trendy clothing.
The dance is fun and I cannot help but tap my foot to the upbeat music of the jingle. Also, I cannot help but be amazed at the courage of these young people dancing on the streets in such times. Yes, it’s a corporate gimmick and yes they must be paid for it but given the rising levels of intolerance in our society towards things like music and dance (especially where it involves a performance by both men and women together) it’s still pretty brave.
The locations are carefully selected. So far it’s been performed at more upscale locations in Lahore and Karachi where the crowd is more likely to be accepting of the co-ed dancing. But a group of performers performed in Liberty market in Lahore where there was no crowd screening or control.
It takes courage to perform in public. It takes even more courage when there are small but violent segments of society that are opposed to such artistic expression and have exercised violent means to put an end to such performances in the past.
What is heartening is that so far there have been no reports of any kind of violence or aggression against the dancers. Lots of videos up on you tube show, surprised Pakistanis looking at the dancers with amazement and then some even joining in with clapping or nodding or tacit smiles and in the rare case by joining in the dance!
Indeed there will be segments of our society who will claim that this must be stopped as it’s against our culture and this is an exercise in corrupting the morals of our society. There will be those who claim that this is foreign propaganda. But I believe it is an expression of our cultural evolution. The popularity of music and dance from around the world is evident in Pakistan. And while we might deny it, music and dance remain deeply entrenched in our historical and cultural legacy as well as in our displays of happiness at festivals even today.
As I see these talented young Pakistanis dance with such skill and gusto and enthusiasm, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride. The numerous complements of non-Pakistani friends on the sheer creative genius of Pakistanis and their dancing abilities also did wonders for my Pakistani ego. After all, whoever these young Pakistanis are, they do a pretty good job and would put even top Bollywood dancers to shame. And the effortless and carefree joy with which they dance makes me nostalgic for gentler and happier times in Pakistan. But as I watch these young people break out into dance I cannot help but smile as I look to those around them.
There is something strangely heartening in watching people letting go of their fear of expressing joy in public and joining in the fun. It reminds me that our spirits have not been entirely crushed by the recent years of terror and violence. It makes me proud that we still have the courage to view with tolerance a form of expression that we might not approve of. It gives me proof that we are more tolerant than the world makes us out to be. It gives me hope for a better future.
I have been born and brought up abroad and watching these videos and reading this articles just makes me think that this is a poor advertising gimmik because it only targets a very small proportion of pakistani people. Most of the people will find it absurd and low. As absurd as me walking on the streets of North america in a shalwar kameez. People will generally stare and find it absurd if i walk around in shalwar kameez. Therefore, certain things belong to certain cultures unless you wana attract unnecessary attention such as females dressed in western outwear and dancing on the streets. In pakistani culture its not called a freedom of expression or art or skill. Its called ” MUJRA” on the streets especially since majority of the men in Pakistan are not accustomed to watching females in western clothes let alone dance on the streets. They stare at a fully covered female with x ray eyes because they are so sexually fustrated. In western culture, however this is not the case. People view them with mere since of performance. Personally, I would rather dance on the streets of North america than on Pakistan’s unless I want to give some boners for those sexually fusrated men.
Another aspect of this type of advertising is sexual appeal for the pakistani public or should I say “Mujra appeal” which indeed is a good gimmick.
I am sure the young boys and girls performing at these malls are not aware of all this because most of the pakistani youth just wants to blindly follow the western culture and look foolish. For example, I recently visited Pakistan in December and couldnt help but notice girls and guys dressed in coats in Lahore which was funny because it was not even that cold. The general public was staring at them in amazement as these kids blindly follow the fashion in west; looking absolutely ridiculous. What happened to the saying, in rome do as the romans do.
In this article the author says, As I see these talented young Pakistanis dance with such skill and gusto and enthusiasm, I cannot help but feel a sense of pride.
After all, whoever these young Pakistanis are, they do a pretty good job and would put even top Bollywood dancers to shame.
There has been nothing done in Pakistan that any Pakistani can be proud of especially dancing on the streets. What is there to be proud of in dancing on the streets? or you mean feeling pride for rebelling against the norms of society? Yea I would applaude as well for doing such an act in current state of affairs. It is a brave thing! But certainly not something I would be proud of. And comparing these kids to the bollywood dancers thats a little too much exaggeration. Indian dancers are professional dancers who have trained for years and made it big. If you want to compare to india well than compare to the success india has reached and we are still fighting with the militants. India is well known around the world for its culture, business and inventions and pakistan is only known for terriorsim. I hope in near future I would read something that will actually make me proud of what we called Pakistan” pak loog kay rehnay ki jaga”
I am not sure about other parts of Pakistan, but do remember my visit to Baluchistan (2007-08) where I found a unique custom. Men (both old and young) gather in a circle with a drummer in the middle and they start dancing on the beat. “With or Without any occasion”. I was quite surprised to see that. Lately after seeing them doing at couple of occasion, I found myself in joining them where ever I find them, in the village square, in parks, side of highways, at bus stops. I found a pure joy and happiness on their faces, and when i used to join them wearing pants, I found their attitude quite welcoming.
Those were the common people from different walks of life, without the difference of status, no difference of age, not knowing each other, just one bound, the beat of drum, and everyone swinging in the same beat. It was am awesome experience.
I am not against the act of these boys or girls, but I wish, these youngsters would have been doing some similar traditional dances as I witnessed in Baluchistan.
Adopting only the stupidest parts of western culture will not get us anywhere
@Paki: Teenagers like Asim has yet not read books like “Fast food nation” and BioGraphy of Jimmy Carter hence no idea that they society they worship “religiously” is rotten like hell therefore, let the teen make noise and make him to entertain others.
@Asim: Oh boy!That shows your ignorance. If you even bother yourself to read those scientists,they were more Mullahs than modern Mullahs.
And by coming up excuse that Mullahs don’t embrace technology, I always wondered what kind of achievements “non-Mullahs” has done so far? None! and the reason I find out that there are so called enlightened like you who are more busy in Alcohol,Dance and masti hence they could not come up something achievable in science. It’s so lame to blame Mullahs for your own mental impotence.
Keep dancing, may it help you to reach on moon *some day* ;)
@paki
Very good point.
@Asim
Adopting only the stupidest parts of western culture will not get us anywhere. In fact, we will end up with the worst of both worlds. This reminds of high school teenager mentality. “Hey, lets do this stupid thing because the cool kids are doing it!”
@Obaid1
Don’t get smart with me :). You know what I meant.