Foreign artistes add glitz to dance festival
Source: Hueiyen News Service
Imphal, December 08 2013 :
The 2nd International Indian Classical Dance Festival-2013 was organized jointly by Ranganiketan Manipur Cultural Arts Troupe and Srila Sripada Educational Foundation at the auditorium of MFDC, Palace Compound here today in commemoration of 76th birth anniversary of (late) BS Damodara Swami.
The inaugural function of the festival held under the theme of "For peace, harmony and unity in Manipur'' was attended by Prof Gangmumei Kamei as Chief Guest and ADGP P Mallana Goud as President.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof Gangmumei hailed Damodara Swami as a great spiritual leader who had dedicated his life to the service of mankind.
The festival would surely help to bring peace and harmony in the whole State, he added.
World famous Odyssey dancer Sita from France and Tamanna Rahaman and her Manipuri Rasa dance group from Bangladesh, who belong to the Islam community but are very good Manipuri classical dancers, presented mesmerizing performance during the festival.
Tamanna had learnt Manipuri Rasa dance form from her Manipuri dance teacher Shantibala whom she had met in the year 1982 .
She is the founder of NRITYAM dance academy in Bangladesh, which works on giving Rasa dance lessons to youths of that country, which is said to be giving her full support to her dance form in every way.
According to Ajit Das, Chairman of the Organising Committee of the festival, the event aims to invite interest for traditional art forms from the Indian youths which is on a decline for years now which is especially true in the context of Manipur.
He hoped that the dedication and talent shown by the foreign artists through this event will ignite a different feeling and explore our cultural art forms which will be a proud moment for everyone.