{{short description|Pakistani actress}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} {{Use Pakistani English|date=July 2020}} {{Infobox person | name = Sheema Kermani | known_for = | image = Sheema Kermani's dance.jpg | caption = Kermani performing at the Sufi Conference in [[Sindh]] | native_name = {{nastaliq|شیما کرمانی}} | native_name_lang = ur | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1951|01|16|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Rawalpindi]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], [[Pakistan]] | occupation = {{hlist|Classical dancer|social activist|theater director|actress}} | years_active = 1959{{ndash}}present | spouse = [[Khalid Ahmed]] (husband) | relatives = [[Imtiaz Ali (director)|Imtiaz Ali]] (nephew) | honours = [[Pride of Performance]] (2023) }}
'''Sheema Kermani''' ([[Urdu]]: {{Script/Nastaliq|شیما کرمانی}}; born 16 January 1951) is a Pakistani classical dancer, actress and social activist.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-15 |title=Cultural resilience celebrated at a unique event |url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/981963/cultural-resilience-celebrated-at-a-unique-event/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[Daily Times (Pakistan)|Daily Times]] |language=en-US}}</ref> She is the founder of [[Tehrik-e-Niswan]] Cultural Action Group (Women's Movement).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Baloch |first=Shah Meer |date=2021-06-24 |title='A haven for free-thinkers': Pakistan creatives mourn loss of progressive arts space |url=http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/jun/24/a-haven-for-free-thinkers-pakistan-creatives-mourn-loss-of-progressive-arts-space |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The Guardian]] |language=en}}</ref> She is also an exponent of [[Bharatanatyam]] dance.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.somethinghaute.com/what-went-down-at-aurat-march-2019-in-karachi/|title=What went down at Aurat March 2019 in Karachi|date=2019-03-09|website=Something Haute|language=en-US|access-date=2019-04-09}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Raza |first1=Laila |last2=Khan |first2=Muhammad Salman |date=2018-10-29 |title=Arts Council hosts 4th Women's Peace Table Conference |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1836220/1-arts-council-hosts-4th-womens-peace-table-conference/ |access-date=2019-04-09 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Kermani is known as a renowned classical dancer, choreographer, dance guru, theatre practitioner, performer, director, producer, and TV actor based in [[Karachi]], [[Pakistan]]. She advocates on culture, [[women's rights]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sheikh |first=Fatima |date=2020-03-07 |title='Aurat March is not confined to a single slogan' |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2171033/aurat-march-not-confined-single-slogan |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> and peace issues.
Her pioneering contribution to the promotion of culture and theatrical performances in Pakistan since 1978 have led to international acclaim.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arabnews.com/node/2592891/pakistan|title='I belong here': Pakistan’s legendary classical dancer, whose art and activism are acts of defiance|website=Arab News|date=March 8, 2025}}</ref>
== Early life and education == Kermani was born on 16 January 1951 in [[Rawalpindi]], [[Punjab, Pakistan|Punjab]], in a [[Muhajir]] family. Her parents migrated from India during the [[Partition of India]]. Her father served in the [[Pakistan Army]], retiring as a brigadier and then being appointed as chairman of the [[K-Electric|Karachi Electric Supply Corporation]].<ref name="Karachi Biannale 2017">{{cite news |date=21 October 2017 |title=SHEEMA KERMANI |work=KarachiBiennale 2017 |url=https://www.kbcuratorial.com/artists/sheema-kermani |access-date=9 November 2020}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Magsi |first=Mariam |date=2016-01-12 |title=I think Muslim men see my dancing as a challenge to them, says Sheema Kermani |url=https://images.dawn.com/news/1174600 |access-date=2019-04-09 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn Images]] |language=en}}</ref> Her paternal family originates from the city of [[Lucknow]] and traces its ancestry to the city of [[Kerman]] in Iran, while her maternal side is from [[Hyderabad state|Hyderabad]].<ref name=":0"/>
Kermani has two siblings, an elder brother and a younger sister.<ref name=":0"/> She received her education from Convent schools in different cities across Pakistan where her father was posted.<ref name=":0" /> During her school vacations, Kermani would visit her maternal grandparents who lived in India and it was there that she developed an interest in the performing arts.<ref name=":0"/>
==Career== When she was 8 years old, Kermani started to learn piano and [[Classical music|Western classical music]]. From the age of 13, she began to learn classical Indian dance from Mr. and Mrs. Ghanshyam (a couple from [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], who had set up a center for dance and music in Karachi). She later joined their institute as a member of the staff and performing troupe. Kermani was the only dancer in Pakistan throughout the years of [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|General Zia-ul-Haq]]'s martial law, when dance was banned and came to be seen as an activity highly disliked by the state and the clergy.<ref> {{Cite news |last=Kermani |first=Sheema |date=17 February 2011 |title=Interview of Guru Ghanshyam by Sheema Kermani |work=Narthaki |url=https://narthaki.com/info/intervw/intrv126.html |access-date=9 November 2020}} </ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hasan |first=Shazia |date=2008-04-04 |title=Celebrating nature through dance |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/412342/celebrating-nature-through-dance |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref>
She received her early education from Presentation Convent Rawalpindi. After doing [[GCE Ordinary Level|O-Level]] from [[Convent of Jesus and Mary, Karachi]], she completed her [[A-Level|A- Level]] from [[Karachi Grammar School]] and then proceeded to [[Croydon College|Croydon College of Art]], [[London]] to study [[fine art]]s. She holds a degree of Bachelor of Arts from the [[University of the Punjab]], [[Lahore]], and a Masters and [[Master of Philosophy|M. Phil]] Degree in History from [[University of Karachi]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-21 |title=KU confers 56 PhD and 82 MPhil degrees |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/910379-ku-confers-56-phd-and-82-mphil-degrees |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en}}</ref> where she is presently enrolled for PhD.<ref name="Tehrik-e-Niswan">{{cite news |title=Founders & members, Tehrik-e-Niswan - Women's development through theatre & television |work=tehrik-e-niswan.org |url=http://www.tehrik-e-niswan.org.pk/default2.asp?active_page_id=93 |access-date=9 November 2020}}</ref>
Kermani started learning Bharatanatyam in the mid-1960s. Her first solo performance was in Pakistan in 1984.<ref name="Maneesha Tikekar">{{cite book|last1=Tikekar|first1=Maneesha|title=Across the Wagah: An Indian's Sojourn in Pakistan|date=2004|publisher=Promilla & Co.|isbn=9788185002347|page=336|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HGqsWktyFcEC&pg=PA336|accessdate=8 December 2016|language=en}}</ref> In 1988, she proceeded to India on an ICCR (Indian Council of Cultural Relations) scholarship and studied [[Bharatanatyam]] under [[Leela Samson]], [[Kathak]] under Ram Mohan and [[Odissi]] under Guru [[Mayadhar Raut]] and Aloka Pannikar.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheema Kermani |url=http://wikipeacewomen.org/wpworg/en/?page_id=2190/ |website=Wiki Peace Women}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Sheema Kermani |url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/the-unofficial-dancer/article6129963.ece |website=The Hindu|date=19 June 2014 }}.</ref> She also conducts theater workshops under the guidance of theater director Prasanna Ramaswamy in Karachi and heads a cultural organization, Tehrik-e-Niswan in Karachi.<ref name="qamar">{{cite news |last1=Qamar |first1=Saadia |date=3 July 2011 |title=Tehrik-e-Niswan: Passage to India |work=[[The Express Tribune]] |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/201704/tehrik-e-niswan-passage-to-india/ |access-date=9 April 2019}}</ref>
=== 2017 appearances === On 19 February 2017, Kermani appeared at the [[Shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar]] in [[Sehwan]] after the barbaric [[Sehwan suicide bombing|suicide attack]] there and performed a [[Dhamail|dhamal]] (a Sufi dance form). She gave a passionate performance and told the media that nobody can stop music and dance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ali |first=Z. |date=2017-02-21 |title=Nobody can stop dance and music: Sheema Kermani |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/1334059/nobody-can-stop-dance-music-says-sheema-kermani-dhamaal-sehwan-sharif |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref>
She performed at the Faiz Aman Mela, Lahore to pay tribute to [[Asma Jahangir]]. She said we can bring peace, harmony and equality by loving each other and by sharing the message of love with each other.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/tns/detail/565023-matters-peace|title=Matters of peace|website=The News International|date=20 May 2023}}</ref>
=== 2022 appearance === In February 2022, she appeared in the music video for the song "[[Pasoori]]" as part of [[Coke Studio (Pakistani season 14)|Season 14]] of [[Coke Studio (Pakistani TV program)|''Coke Studio'']].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-02-08 |title=Ali Sethi, Shae Gill's 'Pasoori' is bohemian and fresh |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2342556/ali-sethi-shae-gills-cs14-offering-pasoori-is-bohemian-and-fresh |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The Express Tribune]] |language=en}}</ref> This special performance was covered by the leading Indian print media, including ''[[ThePrint]]''<ref>{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Tina |date=2022-03-06 |title=How 'Pasoori' dancer Sheema Kermani resisted Gen Zia-ul-Haq by wearing 'un-Islamic' saris |url=https://theprint.in/theprint-profile/how-pasoori-dancer-sheema-kermani-resisted-gen-zia-ul-haq-by-wearing-un-islamic-saris/860601/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[ThePrint]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and ''[[The Indian Express]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Khurana |first=Suanshu |date=2022-05-14 |title=When Pasoori dancer Sheema Kermani used sari and dance to defy Zia regime in Pakistan |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/express-sunday-eye/when-pasoori-dancer-sheema-kermani-used-sari-and-dance-to-defy-zia-regime-in-pakistan-7916813/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The Indian Express]] |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Sheema is married to a theater actor [[Khalid Ahmed]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/05/11/world/the-saturday-profile-a-pakistani-dancer-and-her-life-underground.html|title=THE SATURDAY PROFILE; A Pakistani Dancer and Her Life Underground|website=The New York Times|date=May 11, 2002}}</ref>
==Social activism== Kermani identifies as a feminist and [[Marxist]].<ref name=":0"/> She realized that women in the Pakistani society were not able to get equality in the society so she started a movement called 'Tehrik-e-Niswan' (Women's Movement) and raised her voice for their rights, health issues, education and equality.<ref name="Sheema Kermani Museum reference">{{cite news |date=8 October 2019 |title=Identity, Performance and Gender in Pakistan |work=Michigan State University Museum |url=https://www.museum.msu.edu/?event=identity-performance-and-gender-in-pakistan |access-date=9 November 2020}}</ref>
==Filmography== ===Television series=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role ! scope="col"|Network |- |1986 | ''[[Dastak (1986 TV series)|Dastak]]'' | Shazia | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1989 | ''Aab O Saraab'' | Bahni | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1990 | ''Mai Jioungi Sar Utha Ke'' | Dadi | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1991 | ''Guzar Jayegi Raat'' | Aliya Begum | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1992 | ''Manzilein Aur Bhi'' | Fehmida | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1994 | ''Saibaan'' | Ayesha | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1995 | ''[[Chand Grehan]]'' | Ameer-ul-Nisa | [[Shalimar Television Network|STN]] |- |1996 | ''Tum Meray Pass Raho'' | Shahnaz | [[Shalimar Television Network|STN]] |- |1997 | ''[[Marvi]]'' | Safia Begum | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1998 | ''Raqs-e-Janaan'' | Lady | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |1999 | ''Dhundalka'' | Party lady | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |2007 | ''Khamoshi Jurm Hae'' | Guru | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |2008 | ''Baitiyaan'' | Ubaida | [[Pakistan Television Corporation|PTV]] |- |2009 | ''[[Saiqa (TV series)|Saiqa]]'' | Old Najji | [[Hum TV]] |}
===Telefilm=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role |- |2004 | ''A Rented Child'' | Bee Bee Jee |- |2009 | ''Mazloom'' | Bibi Ji |}
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |- style="text-align:center;" ! scope="col"|Year ! scope="col"|Title ! scope="col"|Role |- |2010 | ''Poshak'' | Madam |- |2024 | ''[[The Queen of My Dreams]]'' | Dance Instructor |- |2025 | ''Tum Sy Bulaya Na Gya'' | Sheema |}
==Tributes and recognition== * In year 2005, Kermani was selected by [[PeaceWomen Across the Globe]] as one of the most influential women of Pakistan,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sarfaraz |first=Iqra |date=2018-11-25 |title=Break the silence |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en}}</ref> and was nominated for [[Nobel Peace Prize]] on her services and contributions for [[Bharatanatyam]] dance, as well as, for her pioneering contribution to the promotion of culture and theatrical performances in Pakistan.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-06-30 |title=29 women named for Nobel Peace Prize |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/145725/29-women-named-for-nobel-peace-prize |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]] |language=en}}</ref> * In 2012, Kermani received Women of Inspiration Award from Wonder Women Association on her struggle and devotion for well-being of Pakistani women and her passion for gender equality.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.wonderwomenpakistan.com/award-recipients-women-of-inspiration?more=2 | title = Award Recipients Women of Inspiration - Wonder Women Association of Pakistan | accessdate = 29 June 2022 }}</ref>
* In 2013, Kermani received ACHA Peace Star Award from [[Oregon]]-based Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) on her life-long contributions for peace, communal harmony and women's rights activism, particularly in South Asia. The ceremony was held at the [[Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi]], organized in cooperation with the Pakistan Peace Coalition and the [[Pakistan Institute of Labor Education and Research]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-28 |title=Pakistani Dancer, USIP Partner, Lands 'Peace Star' Award |url=https://www.usip.org/publications/2013/03/pakistani-dancer-usip-partner-lands-peace-star-award |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170224170552/https://www.usip.org/publications/2013/03/pakistani-dancer-usip-partner-lands-peace-star-award |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 February 2017 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[United States Institute of Peace]] |language=en}}</ref> * In 2019, Taimur Rahim (a documentary film maker from Pakistan) made a short film (named: ''With Bells On Her Feet on the life'') based on the life of Kermani. The documentary focused on the classical dancer's life and fight for social justice during [[Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq|Zia-ul-Haq]]'s regime and it was released in South Asian Film Festival of Montreal (SAFFM). The film bagged two accolades – Best Short Film and the Audience Choice Award.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Shirazi |first=Maria |title=Pakistani documentaries win big at SAFFM |url=https://www.thenews.com.pk/magazine |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=[[The News International]] |language=en}}</ref> * In 2023 at 14 August she was honoured by the [[Government of Pakistan]] with the [[Pride of Performance]] for her contributions towards the social activist, theatre and television industry.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://humnews.pk/life/top-pakistani-celebrities-set-to-receive-highest-civilian-honours/|title=Top Pakistani celebrities set to receive highest civilian honours|website=Hum News|date=20 August 2023 |author=Web Desk }}</ref> * In 2024 in February 26, she was honoured with ''Kashmir HUM Women Leaders Award'' by President [[Arif Alvi]], recognizing decades of her tireless advocacy for art and her advocacy for women's rights.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dailytimes.com.pk/1173841/health-education-facilities-critical-for-women-empowerment-president-alvi/|title=Health, education facilities critical for women empowerment: President Alvi|website=Daily Times|date=February 26, 2024}}</ref> * In 2024 at July 10, she was honoured with ''National Icon Award'' at ''9th Icon of the Nation Award'' for her contributions towards the social activist and cinema industry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://theazb.com/the-ceremony-of-icon-nation-award-distribution/|title=The Ceremony of Icon Nation Award Distribution.|website=Daily The Azb|date=July 10, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|4163328}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kermani, Sheema}} [[Category:1951 births]] [[Category:20th-century Pakistani actresses]] [[Category:21st-century Pakistani actresses]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Bharatanatyam dancers]] [[Category:Odissi dancers]] [[Category:Pakistani choreographers]] [[Category:Pakistani female dancers]] [[Category:Pakistani feminists]] [[Category:Pakistani women's rights activists]] [[Category:Pakistani Marxists]] [[Category:Pakistani people of Iranian descent]] [[Category:Pakistani people of Hyderabadi descent]] [[Category:Pakistani television actresses]] [[Category:Actresses from Karachi]] [[Category:Hum Award winners]] [[Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance]] [[Category:Recipients of the Pride of Performance]] [[Category:Pakistani film actresses]]