A three-day Kathak dance festival began at the Chhayanaut auditorium on Wednesday evening. Prominent and promising artistes, in group and solo, presented dance recitals on the opening day of the festival that is organised by Kathak Nritya Sampradaya. The presentations began with a group dance recital by the artistes of Kathak Nritya Sampradaya (KNS). Led by noted dancer Saju Ahmed, the dancers presented Bandona of kathak dance form. Bandona is the formal starting of a kathak recital seeking blessings from the divine. The well-coordinated dancing, beautiful spins and intricate movements of the dancers pleased the audience.
The KNS artistes also presented a tarana synchronised with Basanta raaga at the programme. Emon Kumar Dey and Madhurima Nishuti presented a duet performance of Nrityanirmit, a style of kathak, at the show. Mukta Rani Thakur performed Gatmalika in solo presentation.
Earlier in the evening, information minister Hasanul Haque Enu inaugurated the festival as chief guest. Noted dancers Lubna Marium, Sharmila Bandopadhyay and Laila Hasan and chief of Kathak Nritya Sampradaya Saju Ahmed also attended the programme.
Noted dancer Sultana Haider was bestowed with Jinat Jahan Smrity Padak-2014 at the event. Every year, Kathak Nritya Sampradaya honours a dancer with the award in memory of noted kathak dance trainer Jinat Jahan, who died on January 31, 2002. In the discussion session, the
speakers emphasised on organising more such kathak festivals to popularise the dance genre.
On the second day of the festival, KNS artistes presented a Chhaaptaal at the programme. Besides, Emon Kumar Dey and Suparna Dutta presented kathak synchronised with song Jharo Jharo Jhorchhe Badol. The day’s programme also featured a group dance presentation of tarana with raaga kalavati.
Today, which is the concluding day of the festival, KNS artistes will present tarana with raaga basant bahar. Oishee and Ruhi will present a duet performance of Meghmalika. The day’s programme will also feature Nrityanchal artistes’ group presentation, and solo performance of noted dancer Tabassum Ahmed.
-With New Age input
