German artist Sara Angius captivated audiences with her experimental dance performance LONO as Kenya’s traditional music, sculpture, dance workshops and theatre performances highlighted the 12th day of Karachi’s World Culture Festival.
Webdesk-Amina houth
A unique dance performance by German choreographer and performer Sara Angius captivated audiences on the 12th day of the World Culture Festival, organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan, Karachi.
The five-minute performance, titled LONO, combined contemporary dance, physical theatre, puppetry and visual illusion to explore human consciousness, memories and perceptions of the past and future.
Presented without dialogue, the performance portrayed an unusual artistic relationship between a woman and a table lamp. Its distinctive concept and creative presentation earned Angius enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Earlier, Kenyan artists Makadem and Adela conducted a music workshop titled Music as Memory, introducing participants to the history, structure and cultural traditions of the Nyatiti, a traditional musical instrument of the Luo community.
The artists explained that playing the Nyatiti was historically restricted to men, although women are increasingly establishing their presence in this musical tradition. Music students and participants also enjoyed traditional Kenyan melodies performed during the session.
Arts Council President Muhammad Ahmed Shah expressed interest in Kenya’s traditional music and invited the artists to join the council’s residency programme. He proposed a two-week residency during which they could train local students and collaborate with Pakistani musicians to develop new musical ideas.
The festival also featured a sculpture masterclass by renowned Azerbaijani sculptor Mushfig Heydarov, who introduced students to traditional and contemporary sculpture techniques.
Meanwhile, French dance group Legiteam Obstruxion conducted a special workshop in Studio One, familiarising participants with different dance techniques, contemporary styles and movement practices.
The 12th day also featured two theatre performances, Almiya and A Stand-up Tragedy. The former explored the emotional relationship between a mother and her child through themes of separation, memories and regret.
