A group of Chhau dancers on Wednesday night staged Balmiki Pratibha, the dance drama by Rabindranath Tagore, through the traditional folk art at Barabazar Rajbari complex in Purulia.

Giasuddin Ansari, the mentor of the Chhau team from Barabazar associated with Barnali Ghosh, a former Visva-Bharati student, staged the iconic dance drama in the folk dance form. Ansari, who has travelled across the country with his Chhau troupe, said it was first time Tagore’s Balmiki Pratibha was staged in the Chhau form.

Barnali said she trained around two dozens of Chhau dancers in past the six months.

Masud Raihan, Barabazar block development officer, said: “The performance attracted all and Tagore’s Balmiki Pratibha got a new form of expression. We will promote those who come up with other works of Tagore in the Chhau form.”