The ‘Pandit Birju Maharaj 3rd Kathak Dance Festival’ will be organized from December 24 to 26 at Chayanot and Rabindra Sarovar Hall.
Organizing organization Kathak Nritya Sampada on Sunday (December 22) announced the program at a press conference held at the office of Dhaka University Journalists Association (DUJA).
At the press conference, the organization’s director, Saju Ahmed, said that this festival will be held on December 24 and 25 at Chayanot Hall and on December 26 at Rabindra Sarovar. Dancers coming from different parts of the country including Dhaka will perform there. Children and teenagers who have won prizes in dance competitions at the national level will also participate in this festival. Moreover, the dancer will be honored with the ‘Kataka Nritiyaguru Zeenat Jahan Memorial Award’.
He also said that this dance reflects the culture of the Hindu and Muslim communities. Words belong to Hindu society, and clothes belong to Islamic culture.
Regarding the organization of Rabindra Sarovar on December 26, Saju Ahmed said that although I had taken permission from the police for Rabindra Sarovar, I had not taken permission from the theater people. We will be programming at TSC that day. And at Rabindra Sarovar, if I get permission, I will do it at both places.
At this time, artists of the Kathak dance community, including Munira Parveen, teacher of DU’s dance department, were also present.
First day programme
1. Prabhu Vandana – Kathak Dance Society, 2. Bished-Anandi-Vijay (52-24) – Kathak Dance Society, 3. First Rhythm – Kathak Dance Society, 4. Song Dance – Rabindra University of Creative Arts, 5. Tribal Dance – Rabindra University of Creative Arts, 6. Dance Drama (Prasanga 47) – Kathak Dance Society.
Program of the second day
1. Guru Vandana – Kathak Dance Society, 2. Rhythm Series, 3. One Nature, 4. First Rhyme (Short), 5. First Rhyme (Main), 6. Clouds, 7. Strange Rhythm, 8. Japtal, 9. Single Shruti, 10. Nupur Nikan, Maulvibazar, 11. Destination, Pabna, 12. Plot Ownership, 13. Joel Kusum, 14. Kneeling Legs, 15. I Rhythm Nupur – Rabindra University of Creative Arts, 16 years. White Rhythm, 17. Pishad-Anandi-Victory-52-24, 18. One Imam, 19. Nataraj Dance Centre, Noakhali and 20. Torso rhythm.
Program of the third day
1. Basanath Tarana-Kathaka Dance Community, 2. Pishad-Anandi-Vijay (52-24) – Kathak Dance Community, 3. Object Owner- Kathaka Dance Community, 4. Chanda Mallika- Kathak Dance Community, 5. Deepa Sarkar, 6 Sweet Voices – Rabindra University of Creative Arts, 7. Munira Parveen Happy, 8. Partha Das, 9. Nataraj Dance Academy, Chittagong, 10. Custom Performance School, 11. White-Rhythm-Kathaka Dance Society, 12. Naital Bay-Kathaka Dance Society, 13 Traditional Dance Hall, 14 Kathak and 15. Malkush Tarana – Kathak dance group.
By the way, Kathak dance is a North Indian classical dance form. In this, the dancer entertains the audience by telling stories. The main features of Kathak dance are fast steps, complex rhythms, coordination with the drum and swirls, and expression in the choreography.