The New Nation - Internet Edition

Staff Reporter

The first International Dance Festival was inaugurated at Shilpakala Academy in the city yesterday.

Rasheda K Chowdhury, Adviser for the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, was present as chief guest at the inaugural session and handed over certificates, crests among the winners of various competitions on the opening day, while artist Rafiqun Nabi inaugurated the programmes.

Sharful Alam, Secretary, Cultural Affairs Ministry, artist Mustafa Monwar and renowned dancers were present at the opening ceremony of the festival.

International Dance Day is on April 29. Shilpakala Academy and Bangladesh Dance Artist's Association (BDAA) have taken elaborate three-day programmes to observe the day where dancers from all parts of the country are taking part in the festival.

The three-day programmes include dance competition, dancing ceremony, rally, seminar and dancing affairs fair which will be held at the Academy, open places including Teachers and Students Centre (TSC) Chattar of Dhaka University and Rabindra Sarobar at Dhanmondi in the city.

Apart from the performances by the finalists of the nationwide dance competition, indigenous dancers demonstrated their traditions performing art forms on the opening day and also included a scheduled performance by the disabled dancers.

On the second day of the festival, a seminar on 'Impediments to Professionalism in Dance and Solutions' will be held today (Monday). Dr Shoma Mumtaz will present the keynote paper. Among others, Dr Karunamoy Goswami, Dr Afsar Ahmed and Rizwana Chowdhury Bannya are expecting to attend the seminar as discussants.

On Monday, second day of the festival, dance performance at three venues - Rabindra Sarobar, TSC and Central Shaheed Minar - will continue simultaneously.

Besides, a unique 'mela' (fair) will be held at the Shilpakala Academy venue that will display everything related to dance - costumes, jewellery, make up, musical instruments and more. The fair will also feature live performance.

"Nationwide events like this will generate more interest in the art from among the masses and will help the dancers attain the much deserved popularity," said an organiser of the festival.