Bangladeshi Dance group, Turongomi performed at the Dance Xchange: The Philippine International Dance Festival 2019 and has made their safe return from Manila to Dhaka. The team was headed by Pooja Sengupta, Artistic Director of Turongomi, while the other two members are Susmita Lopa and Lopa Adhikari.
On April 26, Turongomi attended the opening ceremony followed by the dance parade and red carpet formalities. After the opening ceremony, Turongomi members staged dance on Kazi Nazrul Islam’s popular song “Ami purobo desher puro nari” directed and choreographed by Pooja Sengupta.
PHOTO CREDIT – Emman Bajala and all rights reserved by Turongomi Repertory Dance Theatre
In the same afternoon, Pooja Sengupta conducted a workshop on traditional Dhamail Dance which was attended by almost 1200 Filipino dance instructors.
On April 27, Turongomi went to Olotayan Island for a dance outreach and staged their choreography “ Sundori Komola” there. The same evening “Sundori Komola” was staged at the main venue of the festival at the Capiz Provincial Park.
On April 29, on the occasion of International Dance Day, Pooja Sengupta took part at the Unity Dance along with other choreographers and head of the delegations of other International teams, while in the evening Turongomi staged a portion of their popular production ‘Anamika Sagorkonna’ at the closing ceremony.
On April 30, Pooja Sengupta met His Excellence Asad Alam Siam, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the Philippines at the Bangladesh Embassy in Manila. Turongomi’s travel has been sponsored by Berger Paints Bangladesh Limited and SMC’s brand Joya.
Apart from Bangladesh, other countries that took part in the festival are Belgium, Cambodia, Hongkong, Indonesia, India, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines. The Festival was organized under Presidential Proclamation 154 by National Commission for Culture and the Arts, while the co-organizers are UNESCO, ITI and The Province of Capiz. The overall festival was designed and directed by Dr. Shirley Halili Cruz, the Chairman of the National Committee on Dance, NCCA. Turongomi is proud to represent Bangladeshi Dance at this esteemed platform for two consecutive years.
