"When I was little, I remember humming tunes and dancing in front of a mirror by myself," said Mofassal Al Alif with a smile tugging at his lips. "Despite living in a village where music and dance schools were a distant dream, the fire of dance burned vigorously within me."

Within only six years, Alif has established himself as one of the emerging dancers and choreographers in the country. He is also the founder of Alifia Dance Atelier, an academy where dancers are empowered to explore various international dance forms, including Bollywood, hip-hop, jazz, and contemporary. 

Alif first stepped into the arena of dance under the guidance of his guru MR Wasek, after he moved to the capital to pursue academics at Jahangirnagar University.

"I didn't face much criticism from my parents for choosing to become a professional dancer. 

However, they preferred that I choose a traditional career path, as dancing might not have been financially lucrative," he mentioned.  

Yet, his journey was full of challenges. "I had to repeatedly listen to taunts from the neighbours as they all believed that dancing was definitely not for men."

Fuelled by his inclination towards global dance forms, nurtured by his love for Bollywood films, the talented artiste enrolled in a two-year dance programme at Terrence Lewis Training Institute in Mumbai in 2018.

Upon completion of his training, he returned home in 2020. Alifia Dance Atelier emerged the following year in June, providing a platform for young dancers.

"There is no doubt that the traditional dance forms prevalent here are rich. However, a dedicated contemporary dance industry, akin to Bollywood or the West, is still a distant dream," added Alif, who has been tirelessly working to fill this void through various initiatives. 

Creating magic on stage, Alif and his crew, Alifia Dance Squad, are now a popular name, performing and choreographing hundreds of corporate shows and events. 

Stressing the need for more trainers in global dance forms, he said, "While the contemporary dance market in Bangladesh may be small, it offers ample opportunities for growth. However, without trainers, this transition would stop and the industry would fail to flourish."

Being a performer, a mentor, and a freelance choreographer, he also emphasised the role of motivation for young dancers. 

"Initiatives, such as reality shows, would provide them the recognition they deserve. Also, instead of just putting the spotlight on legends or celebrities, ensuring that each (background) dancer is utilised as per their capacity would also inspire many to work harder and improve," he added. 

Alif is determined to kindle a passion for dance amongst the youth. "I have seen that most young people do not want to learn dance or lack consistency. However, there is no substitute for training. Alifia Dance Atelier, provides scholarships to such dancers so that they can access free training," he shared.

"Don't let others dictate your path. Dance and dreams have no gender, and art knows no bounds,' Alif concluded.