Underexposed talent needs tapping
Kavita Charanji
A boat ride away from Mohakhali is a group of shanties located in Korail. Here is a group of 35 lively girls in the age group of 11-18 years. They have gathered in a tin roofed classroom to attend a session of BRAC's Adolescent Development Programme (ADP). The programme is geared to increase the girls' knowledge of social issues such as gender equality, child rights and non-violence. In the course of their two-hour weekly session they will get to peruse newspapers, magazines, books and play games.The bright-faced girls dance and sing to a patriotic song called Eito ritu gorar desh. It is hard going to zero in on just one or two talents but for reasons of space The Daily Star talked to one young girl who showed promise in the arts. Jannatul Ferdousi Mukta
A student of Class VII in Mohakhali Modern School, Mukta dances as her peers sing. Her forte, she says, is folk dance though she also likes singing. The visitor gets to see her sing Ek tara tui desher kotha bol re ebar bol. Later, she burst into a ghazal, Allah amar rab. One marvels at the talent of the young girl despite the limitations she faces -- her father has a poultry business, while her mother tends to the family of two daughters and one son. Her school, says Mukta, provides no dance classes. At the most she dances on special occasions, at the ADP sessions and on weddings. Nevertheless, dance is a passion for her. "I love the bright, pretty costumes, the joy of dance and the therapeutic qualities of dance," she says, adding that her parents have encouraged her in her pursuits. Mukta is abreast of the cultural world of Bangladesh; she has been an avid watcher of Closeup 1 and is a great fan of singers such as Nolok, Rajib, Beauty and Salma. As for the future, she aspires to go to university and continue to dance and sing.
|
Mukta dances at the Brac School |
