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.
Here in France we have HalAl hamburgers. These are sold by Muslims/non-Muslims and consumed with “bon appétit” by non-Muslims/Muslims.
In Holland we have HalAl brothels where Muslims are enjoying HalAl adultery in a European paradize.
I am not surprised that Pakistani youngsters have invented HalAl dancing. I have noticed many bearded authentic Muslims participating in this HalAl activity!!
Ahsn
Strasbourg
@Faraz
Thanks for the comment. I know its probably not necessary to issue fatwas against those types of acts but it would be nice to see a similar outrage against them too. For some reason, everybody likes to pick on some things and not others.
Kind of reminds me how scores of protesters turned up in India to protest Richard Gere taking a hug and kiss too far (which was a bit silly) but no similar outrage happens on the many instances of female rapes, kidnappings and harassments.
And yes, I’m also glad we can agree on the vulgarity bit
Take care
Daddy is right!
Sometimes there are scenes in the movie that I dont like, I shut my eyes. Thank god they are in my control.
In New Orleans, at Mardi Gra some christian bible thumper guys were on my face. I gave them a dirty look, they walked away. May be they got scared of my beads, Dont ask me how I got them.
If you call that “a mujra” I am sorry you must be living a very sad life then a woman watching man in soap operas is a mans mujra.
This was an innocent fun, a collective group effort in a very boring country for a not very innocent coca cola. Iam talking about “nutritional value”. But who am I to judge, I drink Red bull on weekends.
If the guys were checking out girls, I am sure there were girls checking out guys as well. Believe me I know this equal opportunity.
This could have been better choriographed but I am sitting in America, my standards are higher :)
Happiness you have to search, misery you get without asking. thank you
Shahid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7I5UaB7mx4&feature =related
At school they taught me how to be
So pure in thought and word and deed
They didn’t quite succeed
For everything I long to do
No matter when or where or who
Has one thing in common, too It’s a, it’s a, it’s a, it’s a sin
It’s a sin
Everything I’ve ever done Everything I ever do Every place I’ve ever been Everywhere I’m going to It’s a sin
Father, forgive me, I tried not to do it
Turned over a new leaf, then tore right through it
Whatever you taught me, I didn’t believe it
Father, you fought me, ’cause I didn’t care
And I still don’t understand
@Everybodys DAD
“There are a thousand and one things i don’t like to watch such as fist fights, verbal abuse with mother, sister-oriented insults, bullying…all of which happen in this country. Yet nobody seems to object to THOSE activities as being haram or ‘against our culture’.”
I didn’t think THOSE things actually needed to be condemned. What are you saying? That any time someone objects to something controversial, they first need to make a list and condemn everything else that is obviously haram or wrong? Same goes for violent protests. It’s good to know that you draw the line at vulgar dances.
trying to argue that strippers and this kind of public performance are on the same plane is ridiculous. Strippers are something you won’t even find in relatively conservative neighbourhoods in the West!! I know this from personal experience.
A society that can tolerate tires being set on fire, effigies and flag-burning ceremonies in the name of protecting their and their faith’s ‘honour’ or avenging their political idol’s death should have no business calling this innocuous public performance a source of ‘moral corruption’…what nonsense!!
If anything an activity like this breaks the monotony of daily life nicely….we should have more of these. I’d have no problem with anyone related to me taking part in one of these as long as it didn’t become outright vulgar, which in the case of these videos, it is not.
And if someone doesn’t want to watch it, they can look the other way. There are a thousand and one things i don’t like to watch such as fist fights, verbal abuse with mother, sister-oriented insults, bullying…all of which happen in this country. Yet nobody seems to object to THOSE activities as being haram or ‘against our culture’.
So there you have it