Biography 271: Kids performances on TV.

 In Bangladesh, there was a tradition to welcome any big political guest, including our country's president. Every time they come to our country, sometimes when they leave the airport, some primary school kids go to the airport and mostly perform dances and songs. The guest stood to watch them for a few seconds. Then went to the airport or airplane. The kids were mainly brought from the academic centre (Where they learn dance and other cultural activities) or directly from the school. They don't get paid. But they got free pick and drop service from the academy and free lunch or snacks.

Those kids' main prize was to view on the TV news. BTV (Bangladesh Television, the government TV channel) was the only available television channel on those days, and they showed the news of the guest or presenter's arrival or departure. The kids and their family wait to watch the 8 pm news in front of the TV. During news, the story about the arrival news may exist a couple of second, in that time frame may be half second they showed the Kid's dancing at the airport. During that time, only the family members could identify which one was their kid, and they became very proud that their kid is now on the TV.

Every time I did this kind of performance, we all eagerly waited in front of the TV and watched the news. Sometimes, we watched the English news at 10 p.m. because they might show that performance a little longer.

Biography 259: "Tanga Buri"

By Picasso

 We four sisters have grown up together. Once we were all kids, then one after another, we became older, and life moved forward to older teens and adults. Our brother was born a little late. So, he kind of grew up alone.

When we sisters were kids, we used to try to play together. In the beginning, it was great. Then different opinions started coming and finally ended up with a fight. My mom had to come and end all of this.

We had a common dance that we used to do. It's a funny dance, and we used to dance and laugh. While dancing, we used to say a rhyme, "Tanga Buri, Tanga bur," and then take one foot up and down. When one foot is down, make another leg up. Looks like a bird dancing. We assume we are all very old (Buri) and dancing like that. We laughed loudly while dancing because it was too funny to see what others were doing while they were laughing by watching mine. Our parents also used to laugh by watching us.

Tom Hiddleston dances Rasputin

 I have no comments on the lyrics. I liked the music and the dance...

Biography 110: My last dance performance on stage

The stage between two schools, Matijhil govt girls high school and Matijhil govt boys high school

 When I was in grade 5 in a new school, my classmates knew that I am learning dancing. I think I had danced and sung songs in the class. I heard they use to say, I way I walk, move or sit is very nice because I am a dancer. I don't think so. It's something that I am.

In our school we had a teacher, we used to call her "Dolly Apa". She liked to do extra curriculum activities with the students and students liked her very much. She was the most popular teacher in our school during her time. When she took her class she use to draw lots of pictures on the board. Students like that too.

This teacher wanted to do a cultural program. I went there to participate as a dancer. She thought I am too little to perform alone so she put a senior student to teach me and give another girl to perform with me. I have no problem.

The senior student understood that I can dance better, so in the performance, she put me at the front. After a couple of days of rehearsal, we performed in front of the teacher to get approval. But I felt she was not concentrating on our performance and I don't know what happen finally the total program was cancelled and the teacher went to the boy's school. We had a boys' school right beside our school.

Then time passed, I grow a little bit. My mom decided, now I better stop dancing because I didn't want to take it as a profession. She put me in singing classes. But I use to dance at home whenever I am in a mood.

When I reached grade 8, our class got the opportunity to provide a farewell program to the senior students of grade 10, who are going to leave the school and join college (That's Bangladeshi study style). Our class teacher was responsible to arrange the program. I went to her and said, I will dance. She had a little doubt about me and she already selected another senior girl. But she said, ok show me something.

I danced in front of a bunch of girls and no one moved during my performance. She said, I already took another girl, but I like your style. Then she looked at another girl and said, will you step back and let her dance. The other girl said, yes mom, let her dance.

Then the teacher took the music from the other girl on which the girl was going to perform and gave it to me. And said dance with this music. The teacher also asked me what are you going to wear? I replied, Saari. She said you are too little to wear a Saari. Wear something else, like a beautiful frock. I didn't like the idea. The other girl said, she has a beautiful dress like an angel, she can lend me the dress. I said, NO.

At home, my mom told me, go to your room, shut down the door and choreography your own way with this music. I did.

On the program day, I went by wearing a Saary. My teacher looked at me. We used to call her Ferdousi Apa. She told me, your body isn't ready to wear a salary. You are not grown up yet.

Before the program started, the teacher asked me to go to the mike and announce that the program is going to start. I never talk in front of a mike before, I got scared. But she gave me suggestions about what can I say. I asked her to write it down to me, but she didn't have anything in her hand to writing. So, she said, just go and announce. 

I stood up in front of the mike, girls were chatting with each other. The moment I started talking everybody stopped and looked at me. I understood that day, maybe I have a very good voice.

Later my performance time came. I performed with my whole heart, I went into my performance. The whole school became silent and watched my performance.

After the performance, many people said many good words to me. One was, "I have never seen such an amazing performance before, you just touched everyone's soul"

You know what, that was my last stage performance. And I heard our teacher is no more.

Biography 85: Dance

 I liked to dance whenever I listen to any beautiful music, or wear a new dress or just because I'm happy. My uncle (My mom's oldest brother) suggested my mom teach me dancing. My mom took 4 daughters to Bangladesh Shishu Academy. My youngest sister was too young to get admitted, so the older 3 of us get admitted. My mom admitted my older sister to learning guitar. I was admitted to singing and my younger sister Sonia was dancing.

After admission, I was attending to our orientation class. Suddenly my mom came and take me out of the class. She said, Sonia is feeling very shy, she is not dancing at all. So, you have to go to the dance class, she may feel better and join the class. So, I get admitted to the dance class and started learning dancing. My four-year-long dance learning started from here.

Sonia decided not to dance. So, mom took her to the drawing class. Here she started drawing. Though sometimes after my session, when I go to her class to take her home, my mom said, she didn't finish her painting (She is too lazy) so complete her painting. I have no problem, so I use to complete her painting and submit it to the teacher. I think, sometimes, I made it worse. My painting was never good. But I like to do the painting. I had a notebook. I uses to draw many things, mostly nature in it.

While I was learning dance, my mom get to know, I need to learn classical dance If I want to improve my dance. So, mom took 3 of us to the Bulbul Lalitokola Academy. Where I joined the dance class, my older sister was in guitar and Sonia was in the singing class.

Then, here a temporary classical dancer came. My mom asked him to teach me to dance. He is from the Krishno Ray family. Who were famous for dance. He taught me Monipuri dance (Male version). He also started teaching me gypsy, kathak etc. But then he got a chance to work at Bangla movie as a choreographer. So he left. I must say, I was also not very serious about learning. I was just passing my time. I could dance well so, I didn't put much effort into it.

On those days every week, we uses to expend two days in each Academy. My classmates knew I could dance. Sometimes I had danced in the class, in front of my friend or relative. My mom took me to many children's dance competitions. I always get prizes on those.

One day my mom took me to Bangladesh Television. Because they announced to joined one of their program for the 1st day of Boishak. I went there and give the audition. From hundreds of girls, I have got selected and get performed in the TV program "Chhoy ritur ei desh" (The country of six seasons). My main performance was in the Spring section and I had also performed the winter section. Here I have got my first earnings tk65.

Biography 31: Dances

 It's true I liked to dance to music since my childhood. But I have started learning academic dancing when I was in grade 2. So, I had no idea how should I dance when I was in Alkaseem (Saudi Arabia). Our neighbours get to know that we were moving so many of them came to visit us. One day a woman came with her daughter. The daughter was a teen.

My mom and that woman were discussing both cultures. I guess. Then my mom turned on Bangla music in a cassette player and asked us to dance. We, I and my older sister started dancing, though that wasn't any dance actually. My mom was giving instructions like take your hands up, bent etc.

I am sure the woman wasn't impressed, though she didn't say anything. My mom always felt happy with our dance or any other activity. Then the woman asked her daughter to dance. Her daughter tightened her part of cloth around her hip and the woman started singing and giving beats by slapping on the table. The girl danced. Mostly she moved her hip. I felt she had a very nice rhythm but I didn't know anything about this kind of dance. I liked it, but my mom didn't. Different cultures different choices.

Now I know, she did belly dance.

Biography 17: Dance

 I think, after learning how to jump, I didn't waste any single day without jumping or running till teenage. One day my parent took me to watch a movie in the cinema hall. We were waiting outside for tickets. In the meantime, someone played a popular movie song. I recognized that and screamed, it's my dad's song then started dancing. My mom said she felt very embarrassed at that moment. I still don't know why? Why in our country (Bangladesh) people don't like to see a girl dancing, jumping around as she wanted.

Because of too much movement, my uncle (My mom's older brother) asked my mom to teach me to dance. My mom first admitted me to Bangladesh Shishu Academy in the dancing class. I had learned dancing over there for 4 years. Every month they had some program, and because of that, I became used to dancing on the stage. Sometimes our teacher took us out for an outdoor performance.

Then mom realized to become good at dancing, I should learn classical dance too. She took me to Bulbul Lalito Kola Academy. Here I had learned dancing for 4 years too. I attended both places at the same time.

At Bulbul Academy one day we have got a substitute teacher, Mr. Shingho Roy. His family was traditionally involved with classical dance. My mom wanted me to learn better so she asked him to join as a private tutor for my dance. He agreed, for a couple of months, he teaches me Manipuri dance, Kathak, Gypsy dance. Later he became a dance instructor in the movie so couldn't give me time.

I didn't realize it in my childhood but now I understand, why my mom put so much effort into my dancing. She knew I'm not going to take it as a profession. But I was doing really well. On those days I have competed in many kids competitions at the dancing section. And each and every time I have got prizes.

During those days I have joined a TV program too. It was a Bangla New Year celebration program. The of the program was "Chhoy ritur ei desh"/ The country of six seasons. I was at the Spring dance and side performer in the winter part. This was my very first earning. I had taka 65 for this performance.

In those days, I use to choreograph my own performances. Especially for the competition and stage show.

I was very young, but during this period of time, I realize, how people make good relations with teachers and get benefited, people use the money to get a better chance etc. And I knew, I'm never going to do this kind of act.

I have stopped learning and dancing on the stage when I was in grade 5. I knew I wasn't the best at dancing, but I knew this too that I was very good at dancing. Wherever I danced, people liked it so much.

I had a dream, someday I will dance with my man, romantic dance types or just holding together in the music. Someday I want to dance with my son too. I want it a little bit funny way. Till now he said, he has no interest in dancing. Let's see.

নাচ (Dance)

শুনেছি, ছোট বেলায় নাকি খুব লাফালাফি করতাম, এই দেখে আমার বড় মামা আম্মাকে বলেছিলেন, "একে নাচ শিখাইয়িস". আম্মা প্রথমে বাংলাদেশ শিশু একাডেমিতে এরপর বাফা (বুলবুল ললিত কলা একাডেমি) তে নাচের ক্লাসে ভর্তি করিয়ে দিলেন. নৃত্য শিল্পী বানানোর উদ্দেশ্যে নয়, ছোট বেলার সখ পুরন করার জন্য. নাচে ভালো করার ফলে আম্মা বাড়িতে ওস্তাদ রেখে দিয়েছিলেন, আরো ভাল করার জন্য. আধুনিক নাচ ছাড়াও মনিপুরি আর কথক শিখছিলাম.

এই একটা বিষয়ে আমি কোন রকম চেষ্টা ছাড়াই ভাল করেছিলাম. তবে কোন কিছুইতেই অধ্যাবসায় ছাড়া চূড়ান্ত ফল লাভ করা যায়না. যা বোঝার বয়স আমার তখনও হয়নি. ক্লাস ৪/৫ (ঠিক মনে নেই) থাকতে আম্মা নাচ শেখানো বন্ধ করে দিলেন. আমি ৪ বছর নাচ শিখেছিলাম. এসময় নানা কম্পিটিশনে জিতে কয়েকটা মেডেল আর ট্রফি বাসায় আনতে পেরেছিলাম. একবার বিটিভির একটা অনুষ্ঠানে নিচেও ছিলাম, অডিশন দিয়ে টিকে.

নাচ শেখা বন্ধ করলেও নানা অনুষ্ঠানে এরপরও নাচতে হয়েছিল. শেষ স্টেজ পারফরমান্স করেছিলাম স্কুলে, ক্লাস ৮ এ. বড়দের ফেয়ারঅয়েল দেয়ার সময়.

অফিসিয়ালি নাচ বন্ধ করলেও আমার এজন্য মন খারাপ ছিলোনা. কারন একটু খুশি হলেই আমি নিজে নিজে নিজের ঘরে নাচতাম. পরবর্তিতে আত্নীয় আর বান্ধবীদেরও নাচ দেখিয়েছি :) নতুন জামা বা গয়না পরলেও আয়নার সামনে দাড়িয়ে একটু নেচে নিতাম.

কিন্তু জীবন তো আর এতো আনন্দের নয়. নানা কারনে ধীরে ধীরে নাচা একেবারে বন্ধ হয়ে গেল. আমার ছেলে আমার নাচ দেখেনি. ও জানেনা ওর মা নাচতে জানে বা কেমন নাচে. স্কুলের নাচের পরীক্ষায় ও যখন এ++ পায়, ওর মা কত খুশি হয় সেটাও বোঝেনা.

আজ কেন জানি একজনের সাথে নাচতে ইচ্ছে হলো, সেকি নাচতে জানে? মনে তো হয় না :)

I have heard, in my childhood, I use to jump and run a lot. That's why once my elder uncle (maternal) said to my mom, "You should teach this girl dance". My mom admitted me in Bangladesh Shishu Academy and BAFA (Bulbul Lolitkola Academy) in dance class. As I was doing good, she kept a master at home too. Apart modern dance, I use to dance Kathak and Monipury. My mother's intention was to teach me dance as a hobby not to take it as a profession.

I can proudly say, only in this subject I was very good without any effort. But nothing can be successful without good effort and I was too young to understand that. When I was in class 4/5 (I don't remember), my mom stopped teaching me dance. I got training on dance for 4 years. In this time I had attended some competition and got some medals and crests. After selecting by an audition I had performed on a BTV program once.

Though I had stopped learning dance, I didn't get upset about it. Because for small reasons I use to dance in my room in front of mirror. I have shown my dance to my relatives and friends too. Whenever I got any new dress or ornaments I use to wear it and dance in front of my mirror.

But you know, life is not a bed of roses, gradually I stopped dancing totally. My son never saw me dancing. He doesn't know that his mom can dance, or how I dance. He doesn't know how his mom became so happy when at school he got A++ in the dance subject.

Don't know why, now a day I wish to dance with someone. Does they know dancing too? Don't think so...