Bangladeshi dancer, model and actress Sinthia Yasmin is representing Bangladesh at the international folk dance festival Festival du Sud in France, where her performance in the traditional dance drama Mahua Pala has earned widespread appreciation from international audiences.
The festival, which began on 2 August, brings together dancers and musicians from various countries and will continue until 15 August.
As part of the event, Mahua Pala is scheduled to be staged more than ten times across different regions of France.
Cynthia plays the titular role of Mahua, a performance she says has received an overwhelming response from foreign audiences.
Speaking about the experience, she said, “One of our performances took place in the beautiful historic French village of Saint-Théras-sur-Agrêt. It was more than just a cultural show—it became a heartfelt connection between the people of our two countries. The story of Mahua, rooted in the love, sorrow and emotions of rural Bengal, deeply touched the audience. Their enthusiasm, warmth and appreciation have inspired all of us.”
She added, “We also shared the stage with a cultural troupe from Costa Rica. Although we came from different languages and cultures, we became united through dance, music and tradition. It was a wonderful reminder that culture can truly bridge people across the world.”
The dance drama Mahua Pala is directed by Wasek Mottakinur Rahman, while the musical performances feature Md Fakhrul Hasan Sohel, Jyoti Jyotsna, and several other artists.
Sinthia Yasmin holds a master’s degree in Accounting with first-class honours from the National University.
She was recently honoured with the Nrityakala Award 2026 as Best Dancer, presented by the cultural organisation Nrityangan in recognition of her contribution to dance.
