National Dance Festival underway

The National Dance Festival, organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy (BSA), commenced today with the theme, "Dance against Corona". The performances highlighted the spirit of 50 years of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The three-day festival held at the National Theatre Hall of BSA features 75 dance recitals of 75 dance troupes from across the country. 50 dance groups were provided with the financial assistance of BDT 1 lakh, while 25 troupes were given BDT 80,000 each.

Samina Husain Prema’s dance troupe Bhabna performed at the National Dance Festival.

The inaugural ceremony kicked off with BSA's Director General Liaquat Ali Lucky presenting each guest with an Uttorio. 

The programme started off with the welcome speech of BSA  Secretary Md Asaduzzaman and was presided over by Liaquat Ali Lucky.

State Minister for Cultural Affairs  K M Khalid was present as the chief guest while Bangladesh Dance Artistes' Association President Minu Haque was a special guest at the inaugural ceremony of the festival.

The opening ceremony showcased brilliant performances by 15 dance troupes, such as Samina Husain Prema's troupe Bhabna from Dhaka, Manos Talukder's troupe Nrittogram from Mymensingh, Jyoti Sinha's troupe Manipuri Theatre from Moulvibazar, Nilanjana Jui's troupe Nrittiashoily  from Sylhet, Lubna Marium's troupe Shadhona - A Center for Advancement of Southasian Culture, among others.

Manos Talukder’s troupe Nrittogram from Mymensingh performed at the dance festival.

The performances beautifully incorporated the theme of patriotism and the role of Bangabandhu in the 1971 Liberation War. The performers used various props such as Bangladesh's flag and visuals of Bangabandhu to depict the war. Many were dressed in costumes which had a touch of red or green to honour the soldiers of the war.

The combination of songs and alluring narratives made each of the performances unique from one another. However, dance troupes Bhabna and Shadhona deserve special mentions. Samina Husain Prema's mesmerising expressions paired with excellent choreography made their performance memorable.

Lubna Marium’s dance troupe Shadhona - A Center for Advancement of Southasian Culture

Shadhona beautifully depicted the brutalities of war through the narration of a retired soldier. Their dance in the background paired with an emotional narrative made the performance truly remarkable.

Bangladesh Dance Artistes' Association President Minu Haque talked about the importance of financial aid for dance organisations.

 "During the pandemic, the dancers suffered a lot due to shortage of shows. I would really urge the government to allocate a special budget for dance dramas, so that we can work with all the artistes all over Bangladesh," said Minu Haque.

Shahida Rahman Survi's troupe Bohishrikha performed at the dance festival.

K M Khalid talked about the importance of giving newcomers better platforms.

"Through this festival, we want to bring music and dance together to create a vision that is unlike anything you have ever seen. I want to congratulate the organisers for giving a platform to new artistes so that they are able to showcase their dance prowess," mentioned KM Khalid.

 "The event has been organised following safety protocols. 75 groups have participated among which 25 are from outside Dhaka. All of the dances have been beautifully choreographed by talented dance directors," mentioned Liaquat Ali Lucky.

The three-day dance festival will end on January 22.