National Academy of Performing Arts

The National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA) is located in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.

NAPA was established as an institution to conserve and teach performing arts and music to students in Pakistan.

NAPA

The National Academy of Performing Arts is situated on M. R. Kiyani Road opposite the Arts Council in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. It was constructed in 1925 on a plot of land measuring 47,000 sq. yds. The Seth Ramgopal Goverdhandas Mohatta Gymkhana was the first public building in which the sub-continental style of architecture rather than the commonly used European-style was used by its architect Mr. Agha Ahmed Hussain. The stones, for its two feet thick walls, were brought from Bajapur. Its cupolas and balustrades and its scale are directly influenced and derived from the Mughal-Hindu mixed style which characterizes Akbar's Fatehpur Sikri. It is perhaps the only example of its type left in Karachi. With its carved cupolas and the miniaturized magnificence of a Rajasthani place the Gymkhana has almost been dwarfed into invisibility by indiscreet development. The building's condition has deteriorated over the years and was going to be demolished in 1984. This was prevented by an intervention by the Heritage Foundation Pakistan.

Faculty

Mr.Zia Mohyeddin, the Chairman of NAPA, who was asked by the President of Pakistan to establish and lead a national institution of Performing Arts, has impeccable credentials. Trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he has spent a lifetime dedicated to the theatre (including appearances on Broadway and the West-End) films and television. He has also produced and directed extensively.

Besides Mr. Zia Mohyeddin, NAPA has on Board some of the most well-known icons and teacher-performances, including:

Dr. Enver Sajjad

Talat Hussain

Rahat Kazmi

Arshad Mahmud

Khalid Ahmed

Bhuktair Ahmed

Kamal Uddin (visiting faculty - Make up)

Nafees Ahmed and others

Academic profile

Music

At NAPA, the students of music will derive benefit from being taught by a faculty comprising of practicing musicians, musicologists and visiting maestros. They will also have the opportunity to enrich their repertoire of compositions and styles by tutelage under many teachers. read more

Theatre Arts

The Theatre Arts department will offer students academic courses in all aspects of the theatre as well as practical exploration and the opportunity to present their work before an audience.

Dancing

NAPA introduces lessons in classical dancing (Odissi). read more

Make up

NAPA introduces lessons in Make up.

See also

• Heritage Foundation Pakistan
• The Hindu Gymkhana

External links

• National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA)