Photo: Collected
A theatrical performance as well as an event spotlighting the rights of underprivileged children by Gidree Bawlee Foundation of Arts and Action for Social Development (ASD) were held at the Gulshan annex of Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD) on Friday.
Gidree Bawlee puppet performance group was formed in 2018. Since its initiation, the group has created multiple puppet and performance projects inspired by the community’s cultural heritage. In 2023, Sumi Rani, a member of the group, visited France for a learning residency under the guidance of Laurie Cannac with support from Alliance Francaise de Dhaka. The performance titled ‘The Strange Vortex’ is developed from Sumi’s experience in France and her training with Laurie. Inspired by this work, the Gidree Bawlee children's team has expanded it into a collaborative piece exploring the societal constraints on imagination and freedom. Drawing from their own experiences and realities, the children add a unique layer to the performance.
Action for Social Development (ASD) is a non-government, non-profit, and non-political development organization established in 1988. The objective of ASD is to facilitate the poor creating solidarity among them, building their capacity and bargaining power for realizing their rights and needs to improve their quality of life. For more than a decade, it has been actively engaged in different initiatives for the elimination of child labor and the realization of child rights.
To support underprivileged children’s rights; ASD featured a roundtable discussion, followed by cultural performances by the children of ASD at AFD. Subsequently, there was a theatrical performance titled ‘The Strange Vortex’ by Gidree Bawlee Children’s Team, led by Sumi Rani.
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