Pakistan possesses a remarkable heritage of storytelling, poetry, spirituality, music, and movement. Yet opportunities to experience classical narratives and indigenous performing arts are becoming increasingly rare, particularly for younger generations. At the same time, gifted dancers and movement artists often lack the financial support needed to train professionally, create original work, and share it with audiences across the country.
The Ali Hasan Mangi Memorial Trust, in collaboration with Mohsin Babar Productions, is seeking support to strengthen Pakistan's performing arts ecosystem by sustaining the Mohsin Babar Kathak School of Performing Arts in Karachi while producing and touring original dance theatre works that celebrate our shared cultural heritage.
The artistic vision behind this initiative is led by Mohsin Babar, one of Pakistan's foremost Kathak choreographers and dance theatre practitioners. Over a career spanning more than 27 years, he has trained under renowned Kathak masters in Pakistan and India, performed internationally, and created Khwaab, Pakistan's first full-length dance theatre production. Through his choreography, performances, and teaching, he is committed to preserving classical traditions while making them meaningful and accessible to contemporary audiences.
The Kathak School provides high-quality training through full scholarships to talented young dancers, many of whom come from families that could never otherwise afford professional arts education. The school's monthly operating cost is US$2,365, covering rent, utilities, salaries, and essential operating expenses. We are seeking to secure the school's future by raising US$85,000 to fund its operations for the next three years, providing the stability needed to continue offering scholarships and nurturing the next generation of Pakistani performers. By supporting the school, donors help ensure that these young artists can continue to learn, create, and preserve one of South Asia's great classical traditions.
Alongside this work, Mohsin Babar Productions is creating two original dance theatre productions that reinterpret some of the region's most celebrated spiritual and cultural narratives through the universal language of movement. Blending Kathak, Sufi-inspired movement, contemporary dance, and Pakistani folk traditions, these productions explore timeless themes of love, longing, grief, transformation, and devotion through choreography, original music, costumes, and visual storytelling—without spoken dialogue.
Our goal is to tour these productions through 20 performances across 10 cities and towns throughout Pakistan, bringing world-class performing arts to audiences who rarely have the opportunity to experience live dance theatre. Each performance costs approximately US$7,500, covering artist fees, choreography, rehearsals, costumes, production design, technical equipment, transportation, accommodation, and touring logistics.
Our overall fundraising goal is US$235,000, which will support both the long-term sustainability of the Kathak School and the production and nationwide tour of these original dance theatre works.
| Initiative | Amount (US$) | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Sustain the Kathak School (3 Years) | 85,000 | Full scholarships and operational support, including faculty salaries, rent, utilities, and essential expenses. |
| Produce & Tour 20 Performances | 150,000 | Approximately US$7,500 per performance, bringing dance theatre to 10 cities and towns across Pakistan while covering artist fees, production, and touring costs. |
| Total Fundraising Goal | 235,000 | Preserving Pakistan's performing arts while empowering the next generation of artists. |
Performing arts flourish only when artists have the opportunity to create and audiences have the opportunity to experience their work. By supporting this campaign, you are investing in Pakistan's creative talent, helping dancers pursue their craft with dignity, preserving centuries-old artistic traditions, and bringing inspiring performances to communities across the country.
Every rehearsal nurtures an artist. Every scholarship changes a life. Every performance inspires an audience. Every donation helps ensure that Pakistan's rich cultural heritage continues to live, move, and thrive for generations to come.
Please join us in ensuring that Pakistan's artistic heritage is not only preserved, but continues to inspire generations to come.
