A two-day classical dance festival ended with huge festivity at Chhayanaut on November 9. An array of Indian classical dance forms like; Manipuri, Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Gaudiya and Kathak was featured by both promising and renowned dancers at the event.
Every day of the festival, the beginning of the programmes were marked by lighting prodips (clay oil lamps). On the first day, the students of Chhayanaut presented a group performance as the opening act that also had elements of the conventional Manipuri styles. They have expressed their devotion to the creator, gurus and the audience through their remarkable performance. The glory of Manipuri dance was revealed in all its beauty, specific values and conventions.
Professional dancers Sonia Rashid and Farhana Ahmed performed a duet while Sweety Das performed a solo Manipuri piece.
The first Bharatnatyam presentation of the festival was by Srishti Cultural Centre, followed by Amit Chowdhury and Puja Sengupta’s solo performances consecutively. The performances were characteristically patent in techniques, with movement in sync with complicated counter rhythms.
In the pantomime sections, the story was communicated through movement of hands and various body parts were in motion in a fascinating and is the conventional language of communication of the dance genre. Both the dancers were mind-blowing in delivering even the most negligible mudra.
Eminent Manipuri dancer of Bangladesh, Tamanna Rahman performed Abhisarika on the second day, which was a tale of love. The lovelorn woman showed different moods in the performance. The first part showed her preparation and anticipation of meeting her lover. Then, her anxious wait for his arrival was portrayed in a brilliant manner and finally her anxiety when he did not turn up. Her every act, emotion and movement was so vivid and mesmerising that the audience was quiet with captivated attention.
Following Tamanna’s enticing presentation, the audience was once again charmed with the performance of the graceful dancer Warda Rihab and Subrata Das, both of whom performed solo numbers titled Tanum and Goshthe Biday Jachon. A group performance titled Mandira Nartan by Nrityam Nrityashilan Kendro, was the last performance of Manipuri style at the festival.
The students of Chhayanaut then performed Ganesh Bondona and Alaripo. Several artistes, colourfully and traditionally dressed, expressed their devotion to the creator and gurus. The last Bharatnatyam performance of the festival was a group performance by Jagoo Art Centre.
Captivating dancer Rachel Priyanka Paris presented a solo performance on the second day of the festival. She took the breath way of a houseful of audience through her graceful perfomance on Gaudiya form. It was a unique combination of history, literature, poetry, drama, music, and rhythm.
Kathak was the last featured style of the two evenings. On the first evening, a Kathak performance started with Munmun Ahmed’s solo performance and second performance was a group presentation by Munmun Ahmed’s dance school Rewaz Performers School. Tahnina Islam Jhumi, Tabassum Ahmed and Mehraz Haque Tushar performed solo presentations consecutively.
On the last day, Nrityanchal presented a group performance named Protibimbo (mirror), which was nicely organised and choreographed by Shibli Mohammad. Kaniz Fatema’s solo performance Thumri was a straightforward recital.
Masum Hossain performed a recital called Jhaptal. The packed audience greeted the demonstration with rounds of clapping. Then, Snata Shahrin presented Tarana, a solo performance. The event ended with another performance of Tarana.
The festival was a huge success in terms of houseful audience and the response was tremendous to say the least.