The Raas Leela is an important part of Manipuri culture. The term roughly means ‘dance of divine love and passion’. Dancers symbolise their spiritual love for Lord Krishna when they perform the Raas Leela. At 76, Krishnakumari Sinha is one of the most renowned artistes of this traditional art form in Bangladesh. For more than three decades, she has also been a guru to many. In a conversation with The Daily Star, Krishnakumari Sinha, along with her two disciples Sharmila Sinha and Jyoti Sinha, talk about the Manipuri Raas Leela, and their journey with it.

“I was born two days after the passing away of Rabindranath Tagore. That was the 24th day of Sravan in the year 1348 of Bengali calendar, or 9th August, 1941, in Christian calendar,” reads the first two lines of Ramendu Majumdar’s autobiography, the English translation of which is slated for release this month.

Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts (BIPA) will organise a virtual programme “18th North American Nazrul Convention”, showcasing their heartfelt respect to Bangladesh’s national poet Kazi Nazul Islam in a three-day programme, starting from July 30.

Dhaka Theater was founded on July 29, 1973, with the slogan, “Moulik Natok Monchayoner Maddhome Bangla Natoker Mukti”. Established by noted cultural personality and freedom fighter Nasiruddin Yousuff, along with a few other freedom fighters, the theatre troupe has also garnered acclaim by staging plays internationally. Today marks the 48th founding anniversary of Dhaka Theatre.

The solo exhibition, titled “Shafiqul Islam: The Secret Art of a Mysterious Artist", was inaugurated at Mrinmoy Art Gallery in Chattogram, recently. The exhibition, showcases the works of noted artist Shafiqul Islam, as a heartfelt tribute to him.

Reticent painter and art teacher Arabinda Das Gupta breathed his last at Sylhet Shahid Shamsuddin Ahmed Hospital this morning at 10:22 am today. He was 68 years old.

World Dance Alliance Asia-Pacific (WDAAP) has arranged an online video fundraising benefit for emerging dancers and choreographers in India and Bangladesh.

Abdullah Al Mamun was a stalwart in the fields of theatre, television, and cinema in Bangladesh. A celebrated personality in the arenas of theatre, television, and cinema, Abdullah Al Mamun left behind a dynamic collection of works to his credit. The brilliant plays he wrote in his time are being staged to this day by his theatre troupe, Theatre, and other theatre companies.

Prominent cultural activist, journalist, and media personality Muhammad Jahangir breathed his last on this day in 2019, after an uphill battle with cancer for years. He was the executive director of Centre for Development Communication and the coordinator of Nrityanchal, one of Bangladesh’s leading dance companies. Nrityanchal’s journey began in 2000, as a three-way collaborative effort between dancer duo Shibli Mohammad and Shamim Ara Nipa, along with him. On Muhammad Jahangir’s death anniversary, Shamim Ara Nipa writes an open letter to him.

Bridging the past and the future, all artworks displayed in artist Ronni Ahmmed's solo exhibition, NOOR, radiate the mysticism of Sufism. Organised and curated by ARTcon, the exhibition began at Bengal Art Lounge, Gulshan, on April 14. It will continue after the lockdown is lifted. A 3D virtual version of the exhibition is available on ARTcon’s website.

The Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation has been demanding that one percent of the national budget be allocated to cultural affairs. However, it was not implemented in the budget this time. For this, the federation has expressed their dissatisfaction in a statement.

Theatre and cultural activist Saiful Islam Mahmud passed away last night. Renowned thespian Nasiruddin Yousuff Bachchu confirmed the news to The Daily Star.

Popular theatre troupe Padatik Natya Sangsad’s 33rd production “Prerona'' premiered at Bangladesh Mahila Samity’s Nilima Ibrahim Auditorium yesterday, marking World Autism Awareness Day. The play is written and directed by Sabil Reza Chowdhury. “Prerona” highlights the story of a child who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, the Bangladesh Group Theatre Federation arranged a ten-day theatre festival at Bangladesh Mahila Samity. The festival was inaugurated yesterday, with the 242nd staging of the popular play, “Court Martial”, by Theatre Art Unit.

In memory of noted playwright and Bangla Academy winner Mannan Hira, a two-day theatre festival, organised by Aranyak Natyadal, began at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) from today.

Among prolific playwrights, Moliere is a household name in comedy. Adaptation of one of his most famous works, “The Miser”, translated as “Kanjoosh” has been a landmark production in the history of theatre in Bangladesh.

Italian police have found a 500-year-old copy of Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi in a Naples flat and returned it to a church that had no idea it had been stolen.

Renowned stage and TV actor, director Aly Zaker has been admitted to a hospital in Dhaka after he fell ill.

Three performance halls of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) -- National Theatre, Experimental Theatre and Studio Theatre -- are set to open their doors to theatre lovers of the country from October 23, after over seven months of closure.

As we wrestle with the coronavirus pandemic, theatre artistes and production workers are trying to figure out how to stay afloat and take care of their community, since the very notion of live entertainment has become taboo.