International Dance Day celebrations ends

Tamanna Rahman (C) and her troupe perform a Manipuri dance and Deepa Khandokar's troupe Dibya perform at the programme. Photo: Mumit M.

With the slogan "Nrityer Taal-e Taal-e Bishwa Aaj Ekshathey," a three-day programme was jointly organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA) and Bangladesh Nrityashilpi Sangstha (BNS) to celebrate this year's International Dance Day.
The programme continued basically at three venues of BSA. Moreover, two events took place at TSC and Rabindra Sarobar for the masses. The grand gala ended on April 29 at the National Theatre Stage. The celebration programme was dedicated to the memory of the late dance guru G.A. Mannan. Veteran danseuse Laila Hassan was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year's celebration was more significant to the dancers and was a well-planned elaborate one. Besides the participation of the leading dance troupes and dance gurus, representatives of ethnic groups living in Bangladesh and a troupe each from China and India participated in the programme.
A major achievement of the grand celebration was a talent hunt programme. Eighteen young talents were selected from six dance categories, who will be considered for BSA programmes at national and international level.
A three-day mela was held at the open stage of the plaza, National Art Gallery of BSA, which provided an opportunity to exchange views in an informal manner.
Moreover, a seminar was held on the second day of the festival. Assistant Professor, Department of Drama and Dramatics, Jahangirnagar University, Dr. Shoma Mumtaz presented the keynote paper at the seminar.
Commerce and Education Adviser Dr. Hossain Zillur Rahman was the chief guest at the closing ceremony. Secretary of BSA Ashraful Mosddeq delivered the welcome speech. Former DG of BSA Quamrul Hassan, ndc, who was the adviser of the celebration committee, delivered the speech of felicitation. Professor Mridul Kanti Chokroborty of the Department of Theatre and Music of University of Dhaka also spoke at the programme. Director General of BSA presided over the programme.
A total of 25 Dhaka based dance troupes presented various dance forms such as Kaththak, Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Odissi, folk and creative compositions. The dance recitals were directed and choreographed by the leading dance gurus of Dhaka.
Most of the troupes presented the dance pieces, which they frequently perform at various events in Dhaka. Kabirul Islam Ratan's troupe Nrityalok, Belayet Hossain Khan's troupe Jago Art Centre and Kochi Rahman's troupe Akrity presented new compositions at the programme.
A few troupes, in the name of 'creative dance', choreographed with the playbacks of Bangla films.
It was quite difficult to watch a programme that lasted over four hours on a hot evening at an overcrowded theatre where the air-conditioning system does not work.