IMPHAL, December 30: The Lianda Folk & Classical Academy enthralled audience with its ‘Aavas’, an experimental dance drama with Bharatnatyam and Manipuri dance combined at the auditorium of Progressive Artiste Laboratory, PAL Lamboi Khongnang-khong, Imphal West this evening.
According to the choreographer of the dance drama, Aribam Raseswori Devi, the presentation is based on Kaviguru Jayadeva’s ‘Dasa Avatar’. The Manipuri compositions are derived from late guru Thingbaijam Babu Singh’s solo dance forms, with some additional movements of Manipuri dance and martial arts, she added.
Multiple dance movements of Bharatnatyam are also combined in the composition as an experiment, she said.
N Tiken Singh, director of PAL, who has also directed the dance drama, speaking as a guest of honour during the inaugural function said that the experiment of combining two dance forms is an attempt to create a space of close dialogue between two very different art forms.
He lamented on the precarious living conditions of the dancers in particular and artists in general of the state, who have limited means of livelihood.
The artistes may roam different countries around the world for shows, but on the other hand they have to struggle for their living, he said.
Tiken also maintained that he had wanted to share the problems faced by artistes with K Radhakumar, Secretary, department of Art & Culture, government of Manipur.
“It is unfortunate that he is not able to attend the function due to some unavoidable circumstances, although he was supposed to be the chief guest of today the function”, he added.
RK Achoubisana Singh, former Pradhan Guru of Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Acdemy presided over the function. During the function, two Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardees, K Sanathoiba Sharma for martial arts and N Amusana Devi for Manipuri dance were felicitated for their achievements.
It may be mentioned that renowned Shumang Leela artist Th Hiramoti Singh took the role of Brahma, Budha and Vamana in the dance drama. Music direction and script is by T Dwijamani Sharma.