Manipuri Dance Style

Manipuri Dance

Manipuri is the classical dance of the north East Indian state of Manipur which is surrounded by mountains and geographically isolated at the meeting point of the orient and mainland India. It has unique  form of very high artistic and technical standardsdance form among the classical Indian dance, development of music and dance has through religious festivals , occassion and daily activities of the Manipuri people  throughout the area.  It is one of the  purest, modest, softest and mildest and meaningful dance. According to legends the original creator of Manipuri dance was Radha and Krishna.

The most striking part of Manipur dance is its colorful decoration, lightness of dancing foot, delicacy of abhinaya (drama), lilting music and poetic charm. The Manipuri dance form is mostly ritualistic and draws heavily from the rich culture of the state of Manipur. Costumes used in the Manipur dance are colorful and the music carries a quaint charm. This Rasa Leela dance is said to be repeated by Shiva and his consort, Goddess Uma in Lasya style (in Manipur). It is interesting to note that the same dance (Rasa-dance) was performed for the third time by two mortal human beings, princess Toibi and Khamba of Manipur.

The traditional Manipuri dance style embodies delicate, lyrical and graceful movements.  It is this which gives Manipuri dance its undulating and soft appearance. The foot movements are viewed as part of a composite movement of the whole body. The dancer puts his or her feet down, even during vigorous steps, with the front part touching the ground first. The ankle and knee joints are effectively used as shock absorbers. The dancer’s feet are neither put down nor lifted up at the precise rhythmic points of the music but rather slightly earlier or later to express the same rhythmic points most effectively.

A copper plate inscription credits King Khuoyi Tompok (c. 2nd century CE) with introducing drums and cymbals into Manipuri dance. Ras Lila, the Pung Cholom, Nupa Cholom, Thoibi  are the most important dance forms. There are five Ras Lilas that deal with the divine love of Radha and Krishna. These are: Maharas, Vasantras, Kunjaras, Nityaras and Divaras. The theme revolves around the love of Krishna and the milkmaids (gopis), which is generally performed in a special enclosure in front of the temple called  Nat Mandap.

Dance  is  based upon the cymbals (kartal or manjira) and the cylindrical drum known as Manipuri mridang or pung. The other classical, dances where the instrument is merely used as an accompaniment, the pung and the kartal (manjira) are actually used in the dance. Other common instruments are the harmonium, pena, bansuri, shankh (conch), and esraj.North Indian (Hindustani) music is a very characteristic style of music in this dance form.Usually the songs are used in such as Sanskrit, Maithili, Brijbhasha Manipuri or others from the great poets like Jaydev, Vidyapati, Chandidas, Govindadas or Gyandas.

Pung,Kartal (Manjira) and Manzilla,Pena,Harmonium,Bansuri,Esraj,Shankh are the Musical Instruments Used  Manipuri in the dance form.