“We dance for laughter, we dance for tears, we dance for madness, we dance for fears, we dance for hopes, we dance for screams, we are the dancers, we create the dreams.” – Anonymous

A warm, sunny Sunday afternoon in Manhattan, New York City. Venue – Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater on 9th Avenue. A prestigious venue indeed. Performers – the legendary Lubna Marium, along with some of the best performers of Bangladesh. Even more esteemed if I may say so.

Having been closely involved with Adhunika, I was aware that it had been waiting for ‘this rare occasion and opportunity’ for quite some time. Schedules, funds, travel logistics and timing finally struck the chord!

Dance enthusiasts and well wishers of varied nationalities thronged in to be part of an enchanting evening, dined on the complementary appetizers, whilst the nervous yet composed organizers and volunteers quietly went about their tasks.
Once the program revealed itself and Samina Husain Prema entered the platform to present ‘Goshthe Bidai Jachole’, her stunning, fluid movements of the Manipuri dance style and immaculate costume left the audience in awe and craving for more; eager to decipher how the magical evening was to unravel itself…

Anisul Islam Hero, an exponent of the famed Leela Samson, showcased Bharatnatyam, the South Indian form of Classical dance next – increasing his tempo and ending in the Tillana.  The third classical dance form to be presented was Kathak. Personally touching and very close to heart – Kathak is the dance from which has grown out of the tradition of the kathakars or storytellers. The young Tahmina Anwar Anika won the heart of the audience with her highly commendable performance, exhibiting swift pirouettes (chakkars) and flexible intricacies of the foot (via the tatkar).

Ohe shundoro: is an exposition of ‘Sringara’ the theatrical emotion of love, ‘ Shundor’ or ‘Beauty is that which we love, ‘Shundor’ is all that attracts us But is all this emotion merely to gain something. Or by placing a witness to our emotions do we get to know ourselves better, get to know the unity of creation better?*  The mesmerized audience finally witnessed Lubna Marium dance to her forte, Rabindranritya in this composition, joined by Samina Husain Prema and Mahbub Reza Mithun.

The next two duets – performed by Anisul Islam Hero, Mehbooba Mahnoor Chandni , Tahmina Anwar Anika & Mehraj Haque Tushar charmed the spectators. The contemporary dance styles were especially striking in Anika and Tushar’s composition – Time, whereby the young dancers, filled with creativity, flexibility and passion, tuned together to depict the busy lives of the 21st century and their struggles with the soul.

The medley of the different genres of dance would not have been complete sans the rendition of Raibeshe and Folk. We beheld the captivating elephant moves and lathi khela and then danced away to popular Shohag Chand Bodoni Dhoni!
Lubna Marium ensured that special appeal for the masses; irrespective of caste, creed, profession and nationality, everyone present left spell bound. Hats off to Baby Aziz and her team of volunteers for leading and executing yet another remarkable event!

–    Muna Shams

*annotation by Lubna Marium