The post Savar tragedy overshadows Int’l Dance Day appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>
This year’s International Dance Day celebrations programme was short and not much coulourful like the previous years. The Savar tragedy that took life of about 400 apparel workers and injured thousands affected the charm of this year’s programme and the organisers modified the schedule.Perhaps this is for the first time that dance organisations observed the dance day without any dance presentation since the day has been celebrated in Bangladesh two decades ago.
The organisers- Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy jointly organised the programme- even cancelled the scheduled procession which was supposed to travel from the Central Shaheed Minar to Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
The celebrations, therefore, became just a formality on Monday at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy. The programme just limited to award-giving and a seminar.
Everybody present at the programme observed one minute silence in memory of the dead at the Savar tragedy.
Subsequently, the programme was inaugurated by Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of BSA.
Seasoned dancers Zeenat Barkatullah and Syed Abul Kalam were honoured with lifetime achievement award. Social welfare secretary Suraiya Begum as the chief guest handed over the awards.
The dancers paid special tribute to the demised souls by presenting a group dance synchronised with a melancholic Tagore song titled Sokatore oi kandichhe sakole.
The plan was, however, to stage diverse dance forms by 25 troupes.
The programme ended with the same gloomy ambience as a record Kado banglar manush kado was played.
With that, all artistes left the hall with candle-lights and with pray for the departed souls of Savar tragedy.
Earlier in a seminar, Nigar Chowdhury presented a paper titled Bangladesh: Sampradayikata Prasonga O Sangskritik Songkat. .
-With New Age input
The post Savar tragedy overshadows Int’l Dance Day appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>The post International Dance Day today appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>
International Dance Day is being celebrated today across the globe, just like every year amid fanfare, enthusiasm and dance recitals. The day was marked in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute on April 29 to commemorate the birthday of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727-1810),the creator of modern ballet.
Every year one renowned dancer or choreographer conveys an International Dance Day message. This year’s message has been delivered by widely-reputed Taiwanese choreographer Lin Hwai-min.
Like previous years, Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha (Bangladesh Dance Artists’ Association) and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy have jointly organised a programme to celebrate the day.
Minu Haque, president of BNSS said that this year, the organisation has arranged only a programme at the National Theatre Hall of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, whereas the organisation customarily holds a week long colourful celebrations.
‘Due to the restless political situation of the country, the celebration has been kept brief deliberately. However, dance troupes and organisations across the country are celebrating the day from April 23 onwards,’ Minu informs New Age.
The programme at BSA will be inaugurated by Liaquat Ali Lucky, director general of the academy, at 2.30pm. Following that, a seminar paper will be presented by Nigar Chowdhury where Dr Bishwajit Ghosh, Dr Shoama Mumtaz and Golam Mustafa will be present as discussants.
After the seminar, dance artistes will bring out a colourful procession that will parade from BSA to the central Shaheed Minar. Back to BSA, a traditional mangolnritya [a dance recital that welcomes the audience] will be staged at the open space in front of the National Theatre Hall.
In the evening, a total of 25 Dhaka-based dance troupes were initially scheduled to present dance recitals of various genres at the theatre hall. However, Minu Haque informed that due to the recent Savar tragedy and the mourning of the nation, BNSS has decided that only a couple of recitals will be held this year.
This year, BNSS is going to give the honorary award to eminent dance artistes Zeenat Barkatullah and Kamal Ahmed.
BNSS’s activities do not confine only to celebrate the International Dance Day. It is also concerned about the welfare of dance artistes and other dance related activities.
Minu Haque says, ‘We are going to introduce a three-year Bulbul Chowdhury scholarship soon. Two young artistes, one from Dhaka and another from outside the capital, will be given scholarships to learn dance from prominent teachers of the country.’
‘Moreover, for the past few years, BNSS and the department of Music and Theatre, Dhaka University has been pressing DU to launch a Dance department,’ she informed.
Dipa Khandaker, vice-president of BNSS, told New Age, ‘We, from our organization, always attempt to promote healthy cultural practices through various dance forms. Our mission is not commercial, but professional and aesthetic.’
-With New Age input
The post International Dance Day today appeared first on Dhaka Mirror.
]]>