A three-day Kathak dance festival began yesterday at the main auditorium of Chhayanaut Shangskriti Bhavan in Dhanmondi. The 8th Kathak Nritya Utsab, organised by Kathak Dance Community, features both solo and group dance performances by Kathak dancers from across the country.

Eminent dance exponent Nritya Sarathi Laila Hasan inaugurated the festival at 6:05 pm. The organisers conferred the Nrityaguru Zinat Jahan Smriti Shommanona on eminent dance exponent Minu Haque, also the President of Bangladesh Nritya Shilpi Sangastha at the inaugural ceremony. Renowned educationist Dr Muhammed Zafar Iqbal, noted dancer Golam Mostafa Khan, eminent writer Selina Hossain and renowned dancer Munmun Ahmed attended the inaugural ceremony as honourable guests.

Later, the dancers of Kathak Dance Community staged a dance production, titled Bimurto Chhonder Akriti at the programme. The dance piece was directed by Saju Ahmed.

Today, the festival will feature a seminar, titled 'Geet Gobindey Nritya O Padmabatir Katha' at 10:05am, where Dr Nigar Chowdhury will read the key note paper. Professor Niranjan Adhikary, Eminent dance exponent Amanul Haque and dance critic Dr Sheikh Mehedi Hasan will attend the seminar as chief discussants. Hosted by Saju Ahmed, renowned dancers will also discuss at the event. 

The evening session will feature dance performances by the award winning young dancers, while the artistes of Nupur Nikkon, Moulvibazar, will stage a dance-drama, Shree Radhar Manbhanjan, at the venue. The concluding day (December 26) of the festival will also feature both solo and group dance performances by prominent and promising artistes.