IMPHAL, Dec 22: The festival of classical Manipuri dance, 2010 was inaugurated today at the auditorium of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal.
The inaugural function was graced by Padmashree RK. Achoubisana Singh, former Principal, JNMDA as the chief guest and Dr. Kh. Sobita Devi, director (i/c) of art and culture as the preisdent.
S. Bideswar Sharma, Secretary, Manipur State Kala Academy said that the Manipuri excel in many forms of dances ranging from the folk and traditional to the most refined and sophisticated classical dances.
Almost all Manipuri dances are group oriented. A number of dancers with their movements in perfect synchronisation with music enthrall the onlookers and put them to the world of pure joyful ecstasy, he noted.
Bideswar further said that the famous Manipuri classical dance is also group oriented even though there are solo numbers incorporated into the whole pattern of an episode. This is the one of the many reasons why Manipuri classical dance is quite different from other dance forms of India. Other forms of Indian dances are executed mostly in solo style and often a single artiste makes exposition of the several episodes in story line.
He asserted that the present festival has been emphasized on classical Manipuri solo dance concentrating only to young but matured and talented artistes within the state and he is hopeful that the festival will surely provide a meeting place for experienced senior artistes and young talent for joining hands to create a venue for exposure for the rich art and culture in the country.
After the inaugural function, the solo performance of Kumari Brahmacharimayum Sanjita Devi of Khurai Kala Bidya Bhavan, G. Chandan Devi of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipuri Dance Academy and Oinam Geeta Devi of Forward Artistes En-Camp(FACE) was performed.
The festival will conclude on December 25 at Government Dance College, Palace Compound, Imphal with a discussion session.
