A week-long dance festival marking International Dance Day began at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy on Tuesday.
Bangladesh Dance Artistes’ Association and Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy jointly organised the dance festival featuring dance show, dance workshop, seminar, procession, discussion, awards ceremony and others.
The association vice-president Selina Haque and the BSA secretary Salahuddin Ahammad inaugurated the festival by releasing balloons and lighting candles at the National Art Gallery Plaza of the BSA.
The association’s president Minu Haque, general secretary Saju Ahmed and organisational secretary Anik Bose, among others, were also present at the inaugural ceremony.
Salahuddin Ahammad said, ‘Dance is one of the oldest forms of art. The festival brings together senior dance artistes and the youths under one roof.’
‘The BSA wants to promote dance in the country and will always take initiatives for the development of dance,’ added Salahuddin.
Selina Haque said, ‘April 29 is a special day for dance artistes across the globe as it is celebrated as International Dance Day. We are organising this week-long festival marking the day.’
Minu Haque said, ‘We are organising the festival with the slogan Biswa Nache Chhandamoy, Asbe Shanti Katbe Bhoy. The festival aims at spreading the message of peace across the globe.’
More than 50 dance troupes are participating in the festival while 17 dance troupes entertained the audience by staging dance recitals on the first day of the festival.
Child dance artistes of Bangladesh Academy of Fine Arts staged the opening dance performance synchronised with song Ekti Bangladesh Tumi Jagroto Jonotar under the direction of Farhana Chowdhury Baby.
Following the opening performance, dance artistes of Kathak Nritya Sampraday, Spandan, Angikam, Nrityachanda, Swapna Bikash Kalakendra, Porosh Moni Kalakendra and Samarpan Kalakendra entertained the audience staging dance recitals.
Besides, Anandaloke Sangskritik Academy, Amra Kuri Shishu Kishor Sangathan, Bokul Nrityalaya, Bangladesh Bulbul Lalitakala Academy, Chandadwhani Sangskritik Academy, Sristishil Academy, Puspanjali, Jhankar Lalitakala Academy and Hridmik Dance Centre performed on the opening day of the festival.
Different dance troupes will stage dance recitals at the Art Plaza from 4:00pm to 10:00pm every day.
A two-day dance workshop paying tribute to Ekushey Padak-winning dancer late Rahija Khanam Jhunu is scheduled to be held at the Rehearsal Room of the National Music and Dance Centre on April 26 and 27.
Dhaka University dance department assistant professor Tamanna Rahman will read an essay at a seminar on April 28.
Ekushey Padak-winning dancer and choreographer Shamim Ara Nipa will be honoured at the closing ceremony of the festival scheduled to be held at the National Theatre Hall of the BSA on International Dance Day on April 29.
