Bikash Gurung's book on dance and drama launched

Kathmandu, December 17 — A new book titled “Nritya Tatha Natya Adhyayan” (Dance and Drama Studies), written by film director Bikas Ghale Gurung, has been officially launched. The book was unveiled at an event at the Nepal Music and Drama Academy.

The launch was attended by several prominent figures, including Bhupal Rai, Vice Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, Nardamani Hartamchhali, Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, senior dance expert Bhairav Bahadur Thapa, Shambhu Rai, Vice Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, and dance researcher Bhawana Karki, among others.

Published by the Nepal Academy of Music and Drama, the book introduces the concept of “B2G Principles”, a highly professional approach to dance theory. Gurung explained that this approach would make it easier for new dance directors to progress in the field.

Gurung revealed that his inspiration for writing the book stemmed from a bitter experience when, due to the failure of the concerned authorities to provide exam papers, he had to submit empty answer sheets for his post-graduate exams.

In the event, Bhupal Rai, Vice Chancellor of the Nepal Academy, expressed confidence that the book would play an important role in integrating dance with academic and scholarly systems. He emphasized that dance is the oldest cognitive form known to humanity and suggested that Nepali dance theory should be anthropologically analyzed and reinterpreted for proper understanding.

Nardamani Hartamchali, Chancellor of the Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, praised the author for connecting dance with the fine arts and pointed out that Nepali dance theory could only be completed if it was conceptualized based on Nepal’s geography, culture, knowledge, and traditions.

Senior dance expert Bhairav Bahadur Thapa praised Gurung for breaking away from the tradition of simply following old dance grammar and instead introducing the “B2G” method and its accompanying ethics.

He noted that creating ethics based on personal experience and study is a significant accomplishment, and one should not worry about whether others follow it.

Dance researcher and scholar Bhavana Karki expressed that Gurung’s book would fill the gap in dance textbooks and reference materials available at the university level and provide new dance directors with foundational and theoretical knowledge.

Bakhat Bahadur Hamal, head of the dance department at the Academy, highlighted that dance is a comprehensive medium that expresses the entirety of culture. He believed that this book would contribute greatly to the Nepali dance community.

The event saw notable participation from researchers, writers, and artists from the dance field. The film “Fichyo”, directed by Gurung, was recently released on YouTube.