By Aisha Hoque
Dhaka’s Charukola transformed into a rain-kissed stage on the morning of August 8 as ‘Ghonoghota’, a vibrant Rabindra Sangeet-inspired dance production by the Arthy Ahmed Dance Academy, celebrated the monsoon season in full splendour.
The open-air performance featured more than 110 adult dancers, aged between 20 and 52, in a spectacle of colour, rhythm and soul. From homemakers and teachers to anthropologists, engineers, and research consultants, participants came from all walks of life, united by their passion for dance.
Directed by internationally acclaimed dancer and academy founder Arthy Ahmed, the show paid homage to rain, resilience and renewal. “I see people getting irritated when it rains, but I don’t feel that way,” Arthy said. “Nothing compares to expressing my fondness through the art of dancing.”
Dressed in monsoon-loving hues of white, blue, green, pink and purple, performers danced to Tagore classics such as ‘Amar Khola Hawa’, ‘Aji Jhoro Jhoro Mukhoro’ and ‘Pagla Hawar Badol Dine’.
The audience, many of them ardent Tagore enthusiasts, filled Bokultola with applause, their faces lit with nostalgia and inspiration.
“I’m currently learning dance myself and taking my four-year-old daughter along so she can grow up understanding the beauty and discipline behind this art,” said Labiba Zaman, a lawyer and mother of two. Upon asking what made Ghonoghota different from other productions, she replied warmly, “Dancing in tune with nature in the open air is simply magical.”
Second-year university student Afnan Zaman shared similar sentiments. “I feel really blessed to be here. I would have missed out hugely if I hadn’t attended. Events like this are rare — there should be at least five to ten every month.”
For Arthy, the event’s true success lay in the connection it created. “Many artists struggle to draw crowds, and while it’s difficult, it’s not impossible to bring people together if the performances are sophisticated and meaningful,” she said.
Ghonoghota, the sixth major production by the Arthy Ahmed Dance Academy, proved once again that Dhaka’s cultural heartbeat thrives even in the gentle chaos of monsoon rain.