Επιμέλεια: Εύα Πετροπούλου Λιανού
Let’s Dance
One, two, buckle your shoes.
Three, four get on the floor.
Five, six, step on your feet.
Seven, eight, dance on the beat.
Nine, ten, move like the wren.
Eleven, twelve, roll like the fawn.
Thirteen, fourteen sway like the swan
Fifteen, sixteen, swing on the tune.
Swirl with joy, transcend time.
Dance, the form of cultured minds.
Feel the rhythm and dance divine.
Let’s dance!
Dance Across the World
Dance across the world,
All leave their own trace.
Ballet, balanced, flawless grace,
Eight body limbs poised in perfect space,
From Italy to France it spread,
Angels with pointed toes waltzing pirouette overhead
Flying on clouds, ravishing danseuse,
Each movement a dream, tender and loose.
Ballroom couples’ alluring smiles that gleam,
Elegant posture, rolling shoulders in style, a flowing stream.
Europe to the USA curving patterns, swaying hips,
Thrusts and lifts; locks and drops they flip.
A story of passion silently told in a gist.
From San Francisco, the Contemporary began,
Beginnings of Modern Dance, where freedom ran.
Legwork strong and body controlled;
Contract, release, daring and bold.
Shifts of rhythm, sudden speed,
Floor work, fall and recovery freed.
Flamenco flames from Spain arise,
Posture proud are main, spirit flies.
Fierce glances turn with daring, artful charm;
Swirling flounces of dress; upheld naked arms;
Flirtatious gestures, hasty, heated rhythms;
Clapping the castanets, spread darting flame’s prism.
Street dance, hip-hop, energy vast.
Borrowed, versatile style, the die is cast.
Tap, tango, jazz dances flow.
From European, African, the American modern shows.
Emotions and moods to design their steps,
Feet like drums, rapid footwork sets.
Dancer’s foot and shoe work, so intricate.
Salsa and Rumba, down in Cuba,
Fusion of dance and music of Ganzá,
Mambo, Cumbia, Festejo roll.
Break steps, spins, loud moves and drops.
Trinidad and Tobago do the Calypso.
Everybody dances to the beat of the disco.
Buenos Aires hums with Tango’s heat,
Milonga, flamenco, rhythms meet.
Fast, sensual dance from Argentina;
Influences from the Cuban habanera.
Brazilian Samba, hypnotic, bright,
Guatemala’s Marimba dances the night.
Egyptian belles sway with might,
Dynamic shaking solo with torso twists in moonlit light.
Middle Eastern rhythms ignite.
Torso isolates, artistry shown with body parts;
Fascinating, beautiful body art.
From India’s heart, classical dance,
Bharatanatyam tells tales at a glance.
From Tamil Nadu, southern India
Hand mudras tell a story that’s the idea.
Kathakali: southwestern India’s religious dance.
Inspiration from Ramayana and Shiva’s romance
Ramayana’s lore,
Kathak: northern India,
A dance of love, ghungroos implore.
Manipuri from Manipur, northeastern India.
Folk traditions and rituals, from life of God Krishna.
Smooth and graceful, oh what charisma!
Andhra Pradesh: Kuchipudi, sensual dancing,
Sprinkling holy water, a ritual with singing.
Odissi, from Orissa in eastern India
Fifty mudras, lyrical, sensuous dance
Goddesses rise, deities loom.
Dazzling, daring goddesses, deities pursue.
Indian dance lifts souls and leaves all in a trance.
Soulful hearts immerse in beautiful romance.
Bhangra, vibrant martial movements, folk dance from Punjab
Jhumer dancers sway folk dance with roots in Punjab, Balochistan,
Dhali, war- themed, martial arts dance with swords and shield
Baul, mystic tradition with expressive moves and spiritual themes,
soul is healed.
Manipuri, Santal tribal dances graceful and intricate moves revealed.
Festival dances from Bangladesh fascinate the audience; they beam.
Methodical, precise, yet free;
Dancing soft, swift feet to the beat in harmony.
Perfection with passionate emotions ignite;
Eases mind and lifts high to divinity, excites.
Glittering garments shine like tremulous waves
Sparkling trinkets sparkle with rhythmic display.
Dancers’ eyes ravish with rapture,
Amazing aura, audience easy to capture
Dance from east to west, north and south
Continents with diverse traditions and muse.
Dance, dance! Dance with the steps
Shake your body, the way you can best
Let it touch your heart and soul
Let music lift you and make you whole.
Let the onlooker applaud and smile;
Stress will fade, your spirit will sing,
Poetry births song, and dance takes wing.
Poetry gives birth to music, song and dance.
Poetry gives life, meaningful contrasts.
Brief Biography of Tasneem Hossain
Tasneem Hossain, a multi-lingual poet, author, educator, translator and columnist from Bangladesh has left an undeniable mark on the literary world. With a major in English language and Literature, she is a prolific writer who crafts poetry in English, Bengali and Urdu. Her works span from poetry, fiction, op-eds, translations and educational writings making her a versatile and influential literary figure.
She has immersed herself in the timeless essence of literary creations. She believes, ‘poetry is music through words, an ever-flowing river reflecting all that surrounds us.’ Tasneem writes poetry only when her passion is aroused and this can be observed in the powerful flow of her ink.
A strong literary presence, she is a multifaceted author, a talented and gifted soul, an experienced educator and a business leader. Her profound and emotive writings have captured the hearts and illuminated the lives of countless of readers worldwide. Tasneem’s works have transcended geographical boundaries, reaching readers from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Her impactful writings have been featured in more than 280 esteemed anthologies, journals, daily newspapers and international magazines worldwide. Some of her books are available in 40 countries.
Her op-eds and columns create awareness about social and human rights issues- including domestic abuse, war and peace. Her writings are a powerful call to humanity to stand against injustice and war. As an op-ed writer, she has written more than 175 articles.
Several of her articles and poems are utilized as teaching material in universities and academies in Bangladesh and China; some have found their way in university research papers and some have been referenced in university research papers.
She also conducts international workshops on haiku writing.
Adjudged the ‘100 most influential literary figures of 2025’, by Barcelona Adibia. She is the winner of The International Literary Association Creative Tribune, Walt Whitman 2025 Contest and first place holder in the English Language category of The International Literary Association CREATIVE TRIBUNA’s ” Friedrich Schiller International Literary competition 2025”. She has also won the prestigious Giovanni Pascoli Award for 2026-2027 and Shahittyapata Award 2025 and 2026. She has won many other awards and recognition from different literary groups around the world. Her poems have been translated in 18 languages and her powerful writings are regularly featured in esteemed publications around the globe. A member of World Writers’ Union, she has been recognized as World’s Contemporary Writers 2024 and 2025 in several anthologies and interviewed on several literary platforms in recognition of her contributions to world literature. She has also been recognized as ambassador of peace and Humanities by ‘The Egyptian International Organization for Ambassadors of Peace and Humanities’
She is the Editorial Ambassador, Bangladesh for the popular international literary magazine, Wordsmith International Editorial, USA and Board Ambassador of Literacy and Culture of the Asih Sasami Indonesia Foundation, Indonesia for five years (2025-2030).
An author of three poetry collections—Grass in Green, The Pearl Necklace, and Floating
Feather and a book of articles Split and Splice, she also leads an international poetry project and group called Life in Lyrics. Additionally, four more books are currently in progress.
She served as a faculty member of Business English at Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology. Currently, she is the director of the prominent human resource development
organizations, Continuing Education Centre (Bangladesh), and Cansaz Services and Distribution LLC (Canada). With 29 years of experience, she is a highly regarded Business consultant, and English Language and Communication Management trainer.
She actively participates in sports whenever the opportunity arises. She also participated in the national badminton championships in Bangladesh. For 10 years, she worked as a
newscaster, commentary reader, interviewer and radio presenter for Radio Bangladesh. She has also directed plays, including Shakespeare’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’.
You can connect with Tasneem Hossain through email: [email protected]
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasneem-hossain-280b891aa/
