Special “Tasher Desh” staging today at BSA

Bangladesh Institute of Performance Arts (BIPA), a US-based organisation – in association with Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) will stage Rabindranath Tagore's classic dance drama “Tasher Desh” at the National Theatre Hall of BSA today, dedicating to the memory of Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

A group of youths born and brought up in New York, USA will enact the play, in English (under the title “Land of Cards”). Anny Ferdous has directed the play, along with dance direction and costume design. Nadim Ahmed has done the musical arrangement, with the songs sung by BIPA members and a number of up-and-coming singers of New York. A 20-member delegation has arrived from New York for the performance, and they will be joined by eight dancers from BSA and a number of child dance artistes.

BIPA was founded in New York in 1993, with a vision to continue practice and prosper of Bangla language and culture among the new generation of expatriate Bangladeshis. Bangla language, music and dance trainings are given in three branches of BIPA in Queens and Brooklyn, NY, along with hosting of cultural programmes. BIPA artistes have performed Bangla songs and dance at various programmes at public libraries, museums, and UN programmes.

BIPA's “Land of Cards” has been praised in the USA among audiences of various nationalities and ages. This is the second collaboration between BSA and BIPA; the first was 2015's “Noibedyo”. The staging is part of the organisation's yearlong celebration of its upcoming silver jubilee next year.