About Samina Husain Prema:
Samina was introduced into the world of dance and music at a very tender age. Shantibala Sinha, Tamanna Rahman & Sharmila Banerjee at Chhayanaut Sangeet Vidyayatan which is one of the most prestigious cultural organizations of Bangladesh. She completed her academic study of Chhayanaut with 1st class. Later she underwent advanced and special training from the renowned ex
ponent of Manipuri dance, Guru Kalavati Devi who was appointed as the Manipuri dance guru at the cultural centre of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka. After finishing her M.S. in Statistics department at Dhaka University, she completed her M.A. in Manipuri dance at Rabindra Bharati University of Kolkata and also pursuing training from Guru Kalavati Devi. She is also a student of Manipuri Nartanalaya, kolkata, the pioneer institute of Manipuri dance in India founded by the legendary Guru Bipin Singh along with Guru Kalavati Devi and the Jhaveri Sisters. Current Profession:
• Dance Instructor at Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.
• She is a director of her own dance group Bhabna. Experiences:
• Part time dance teacher of Excel Academy
• Former dance teacher at Chhayanaut Sangeet Vidyayatan
• Enlisted dance artist of Bangladesh Television
• Member of Bangladesh Nrityashilpi Shongstha
• Former dance teacher of University of Liberal Arts (ULAB)
About her own dance school Bhabna:
In 2007, Bhabna began its journey through the world of dance, under the guidance of Samina Husain Prema. Bhabna is a school of classical Manipuri dance. The primary intent of Bhabna is to practice pure classical Manipuri dance. Our goal is to combine classical dance forms with Nazrul and Tagore styles, preserving the old practices while expanding and evolving our traditions further. Bhabna has also worked with other dance forms such as Folk, Martial and Contemporary. The troupe proceeds with an eye towards the future, under the competent direction of Samina Husain Prema, while Zeenat Afroza remains a stalwart advisor. Recognitions :
• She was honoured as an International Classical Manipuri Dancer by Geetiswami Jayanti Udjapon Shomiti at an event marking the 120th birth anniversary of Geetiswami Gokulananda, one of the most prominent figures for the Vishnupriya Manipuri community in 2016 at Guwahati, India.
• She has received Naatyasaaradhi Award of Nataraj Music & Dance Academy Center for her performance in Classical Manipuri Dance in 2013, at Vishakhapatnam, India.
• She has been selected to receive the Singar Mani Award of the 48th Kal Ke Kalakar Sammelan 2009 for her performance in Classical Manipuri Dance at Mumbai, India.
• She is four times awardee of Gold Medals in Classical, Creative and Folk dance in “National Educational Week” respectively in 2002, 2003 and 2004 by the Honorable Prime Minister of Bangladesh. Experience in various productions:
• She has launched her first full length production on Tagore’s dance drama ‘Bhanushingher Padaboli’ by her own dance group Bhabna.
• She has launched her second full length dance drama ‘Shakuntala’ under the auspices story and play ‘Abhigyan Shakuntalam’ by the great poet Kalidasa.
• She has also composed short productions like ‘Ohe Shundoro’ based on sringar rasa, ‘Prem O Prokriti’ based on six seasons of Bangladesh and ‘Alor Pothojatri’ based on patriotic songs.
• She has performed the main character of the dance drama ‘Shakuntala’ directed by Gautam Dey from Kolkata. Besides various productions she is capable to arrange any kind of dance choreography like classical, folk, contemporary and fusion. Major performances:
• Cultural program on Bangladesh Night’ 2017 (Ankara and Istanbul) (Govt. Tour)
• Dance event ‘Rhythms of Bangladesh’ 2017 (Yangon, Myanmar)
• 120th Anniversary of Bishnupriya Manipuri icon Geetiswami Gakulananda Sinha 2016 (Guwahati, Assam)
• 14th Asia Arts Festival 2015 & 3rd Asia Cultural Forum 2015 (Guangzhou, China) (Govt. Tour)
• Bangla Gaaner Utshob, 2013 (Kolkata,India)
• 3rd International Indian Classical Dance Festival-2013 (Visakhapatnam, India)
• 2012 Asian Dance Workshop (Seoul & Gwangju, Korea)
• 3rd International Music Festival, Asia Pacific Region, 2012 (Krasnoyarsk, Russia) (Govt. Tour)
• Bangladesh Utshob 2011 (Kolkata, India) (Govt. Tour)
• World Dance Alliance (WDA) Global Dance Event, 2010 (U.S.A.)
• Udayshankar Dance Festival 2009 (Kolkata, India)
• Classical Dance organized by IIC on 2009 (Delhi, India)
• 48th Kal Ke Kalakar Sammelan 2009 (Mumbai, India)
• Inaugural function of the Tagore Centre, the new premise of ICCR 2008 (Kolkata,India)
• Festival of Manipuri Classical Dance 2008 (Santiniketan, India)
• Kabi Paksha 2004 (Kolkata, India)
• Kalidas Festival 2002 (Ujjain, India)
• Biswa Banga Sammelan 2000 & BMANA Annual Convention 2000 (U.S.A.)
• Programmes organized by SHADHONA & ICCR and leading cultural institutes of Bangladesh, Kolkata, Lucknow, Delhi.
