Ten leading choreographers of the country presented colourful dance recitals synchorinised with music composed by the 10 best musicians on Monday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The show was the first day programme of the three-day cultural festival organsied by Bangladesh Shilapakala Academy displaying its project to create international standard performing arts titled Desojo Sangskritir Bikas o Antirjatik Sangskritir Sathe Melbandhan, which was inaugurated by the information minister Hasanul Haque Inu as the chief guest. Secretary of the cultural ministry Ranajit Kumar Biswas was present as special guest at the programme which was presided over by director general of the academy Liaquat Ali Lucky.
The themes of their performances depicted a range of issues like daily life, love, life of ethnic communities in the country, Dhaka city, the scenery and festivals of Bangla, rivers, and many others.
The show began with presentation of the recital choreographed by Dipa Khandokar based on Alam Khan’s music featuring the circle of human life from birth till death. The artistes of Narittyam performed in the dance piece depicting the birth of a child, its growing up and at last death in old age.
Dhaka Amar Dhaka was a unique production on that evening. Dance directed by Warda Rihab, music directed by Foad Naser Babu and poem written by MA Wasek, the performance included group dance synchronised with music and stentorian recitation of a poem titled Dhaka Amar Dhaka. The poem and the dancers presented the history and also the diversity of the capital city Dhaka.
Dance director Kabirul Islam Ratan’s production Utsab, which was performed to the music by Alauddin Ali, entertained the gathering with presentation of the festivals of Bangla like Pahela Baishakh, Eid, Puja, Nabanno and others. The dancers created a festive atmosphere on stage through their spontaneous dancing with pops like horses, elephants and tigers.
Dance director Tamanna Rahman’s production Lal Sobujer Gantha presented the bravery of the people of this country who fought against the Pakistani invading army in the war of independence in 1971. Music directed by Ali Hossain, the production also portrayed the heinous genocide committed by the army.
The diverse lifestyle of the ethnic minorities has been depicted in a vibrant production titled Bangladesh-er Khudro Nri-Gosthi choreographed by MR Wasef based on the music composed by Biplob Borua. The dancers of Nandan Kala Kendra with the movements and stances portrayed the hunting process of the Santal hunters. The traditional dance forms of Chakma and Tripura community were briefly presented in this small production.
The dance directors Minu Haque and Samina Hossain Prema each paired up with music director Ali Asgar Khokhon creating two separate productions and the rest of the dance directors were Anik Bose, Munmun Ahmed, and Belayet Hossain Khan pairing up with the music directors Maksud Jamil Mintu, Sheikh Sadi Khan, and Sujoy Shyam, respectively. The auditorium was packed with audience during the whole length of the programme. Nasrin Jahan, a college student, shared her observations with New Age saying that all the productions were enjoyable, ‘But I specially liked the Bangladesh-er Khudro Nri-Gosthi because it presented the lifestyle of the small communities very effectively.’
The show was mind-blowing but the organisers should have been more careful about punctually as they were about 40 minutes late to begin the show.
-With New Age input
