Manipuri Dance Training Project underway

Participants of the workshop.

A three-year dance training programme has been initiated by Shadhona and Manipuri Theatre, to teach Manipuri dance to the Manipuri community in Srimongol. The programme recently commenced at Manipuri Theatre's 'Nat Mandapa' in Ghoramara, Komolganj.

Named “Dhrumel”, the project will impart training in Manipuri performance and theoretical perspective, along with orientation to making costumes and instruments.

Pung Cholom, Dhol Cholom, Kartal Cholom, Thangta, and other lasya and tandav forms of Manipuri will be taught. The key dance trainer will be Sweety Das-Chowdhury—from Kolkata, India. A post graduate in Masters in Manipuri dance from Rabindra Bharati University, she has also trained extensively under Kalavati Devi. Gurus of the Manipuri community in Komolganj will also be part of the project.

The project was inaugurated through a short workshop from June 2-4, in which 30 students, including 15 members of Manipuri Theatre participated.

The event was conducted by Subhashish Sinha, chairperson of Manipuri Theatre. In her welcome address, dance researcher and general secretary of Shadhona Lubna Marium expressed hopes that an annual International Manipuri Dance Festival could be arranged in Komolganj.