“The art form of dance is under threat”

Incorporating the elegance of Kathak with the timeless creations of Tagore, Nazrul and Lalon, renowned dancer-choreographer Munmun Ahmed has so far successfully choreographed and directed many productions, musicals and dance-dramas, like “Din Bodoler Gaan”, “Swapnajatra”, “Expedition”, “Roudra Din Paira” and more. 

Marking International Dance Day 2017, Munmun Ahmed is all set to perform today with her students of Rewaz Performers' School at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). BTV and ATN Bangla will also air her recorded dance performances today.

In a recent conversation with The Daily Star, Munmun Ahmed shared many aspects of dance practice in Bangladesh.

“Understanding the art of dance is mandatory to perform dance, and not the costume, make-up and get-up. If I cannot relay the exact emotion through the language of dance, my presentation will be termed as spurious.” 

“TV channels are cutting down on their budget by letting low-calibre dancers perform on their shows for smaller fees. This creates a crisis: deserving artistes are getting deprived, and at the same time, the distant audience are thinking of the sub-standard dance performances as the standard ones. It is a great threat to the art form of dance.”

“There are dancers who attend a few dance workshops at BSA and consider themselves pundits. Learning of classical dance requires dedication, practice and respect towards Guru-Shishya Parampara. They are not properly pursuing the dance form and running after the cheap popularity. Engaging all stake-holders, effective round-table conference, workshops, and discussion can be organised to end these practice.”  

“BSA has started yearlong classical dance workshop. I am teaching there as a Kathak Guru. I hope the workshop will help create a pool of new generation dance artistes. We dance artistes face many problems: we don't have sufficient and proper dance stages and practice venues. If the government allocates rooms of public schools to artistes on holidays and after school hours for continuing practice, the art form would be flourished. The artistes need support from all corners so that they can continue their art practice.”