INT'L DANCE DAY PROGRAMME INAUGURATED

A weeklong (April 23-29) colourful programme marking International Dance Day was inaugurated on Saturday at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA). 

Veteran journalist Kamal Lohani inaugurated the event through releasing balloons at the BSA's Music and Dance Centre premises. Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangstha (BNSS) and BSA have jointly organised the event.

Five noted dance gurus Rahija Khanam Jhunu, Amanul Haque, Laila Hasan, Golam Mostafa Khan, Saju Ahmed, Minu Haque and Mahfuzur Rahman spoke at the inaugural ceremony held at the National Art Gallery Plaza. 

Leaders of BNSS accompanied by a number of dance artistes swayed with the beats of dhak-dhol, mondira and kartal as they celebrated the festival. They also inaugurated the dance fair where several stalls are exhibiting dance dresses, props, brochure, CDs and food. 

Later, both child and senior artistes with different troupes performed dances at the venue. 

A number of artistes from various dance troupes --Spondon, Jago Art Centre, Nrityalok, Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts, Chhando Nrityaloy, Dibya, Kathak Nritya Sampradaye, Nataraj and Nrityanandan along with artistes of BNSS from all over Bangladesh performed dances every day at the programme. 

The programmes to mark International Dance Day (April 29) will start at 7:30am at Nrityacharya Bulbul Chowdhury premises at BSA. A colourful rally will parade several streets of the capital and end at BSA. A seminar titled will be held at BSA at 9:30am on the day.

A grand celebration programme will take place at National Theatre Hall of BSA at 6:30pm on the same day. Cultural Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Noor, MP will attend the programme as chief guest while Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya, Chairperson of the Department of Dance of University of Dhaka will attend as special guest. Nrityagurus -- Rahija Khanam Jhunu and Golam Mostafa Khan will speak at the event, presided over by Liaquat Ali Lucky, DG of BSA. This year the organisations will honour Dr. Enamul Haque, noted historian, archaeologist, and musicologist.