Taking dance to the small screen
Eid holidays mean a period of high activity for television stars. However, proponents of other cultural arenas do not take a backseat around this time of the year. Anisul Islam Hero, noted dancer and director of Srishti Cultural Center is slated to perform in a few dance programmes to air during the holidays, and has a number of other projects up his sleeves to be executed later in the year.
The artiste and his troupe are currently working on productions to be aired by Channel i and BTV on Eid. “The dance forms are a mix of classical and modern, and set against popular songs of our country,” said the choreographer. Among the songs included in the repertoire are a Habib and Nancy duet and an adhunik number titled “Phool Phote Phool Jhore” by Samina Chowdhury. Hero added that the costumes are a blend of classical and contemporary.
“My reason for choosing this form above others was to give viewers something relatable to enjoy, and to differ from the usual Bollywood style of choreography that tends to take precedence in entertainment programmes. Eid is a ritual festival, and therefore it is important to highlight the traditions of our country in the appropriate manner,” he explained.
The seasoned choreographer lamented the lack of exposure for proper dancers on TV. “The media has the tendency to use models and actors from the showbiz industry to perform dance numbers, rather than choosing trained dancers. This is a sad scenario for those that have spent years dedicating themselves to this art, and they are usually deprived of offers during this time of the year. I hope that this will change in the near future.”
The troupe has also been invited to perform abroad soon. “Around September, I plan to hold a four-day dance drama festival at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The production work has begun, but we are yet to book a hall and find more sponsors,” he concluded.
Comments