Darshana Jhaveri and her troupe present Manipuri Dance, India's classical form, with her three sisters - the world renowned Jhaveri Sisters - over the past five decades.
Guided during his lifetime by Guru Bipin Singh, Darshana (who received India's honorific title of Padmashri) has illuminated the intricacies and beauty of her chosen art form for audiences in Japan, India, U.K., France, Malaysia, Russia and the U.S. Emanating from the North Eastern region of India, Manipuri dance is characterized by its own distinctive movement vocabulary, costuming and musical traditions.
The items presented here incorporate the two main divisions of Manipuri dance: Lasya (feminine) and Tandava (masculine). The dances are based on a variety of
talas (rhythm patterns) and Prabandhas (musical compositions).
Many of the dances incorporate stories about the childhood pranks of young Krishna, as well as the divine love between Lord Krishna and Radha. Male dance forms with drums such as Pung Cholom and Dhol Cholom as well as festival dances such as like Khubak-ishei (clap dance) and Mandila Nartan (cymbal dance) are exhibited here.
This tour is presented under the auspices of Battery Dance Company with travel support from the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
- Dance& Music directed by Guru Bipin Singh
- Choreographed by Jhaveri Sisters.
DANCERS :
- Darshana Jhaveri
- Laipubam Anasuya Devi
- Mausumi Bhar Bhattacharya
- Pankhuri Agrawal
- Sorokhaibam Tomba Singh
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(from Left) Laipubam Anasuya, Pankhuri Agrawal, Darshana Jhaveri, Mausumi Bhar, Sorokhaibam Tomba |
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* Information provided by Pankhuri Agrawal, graduate of Haverford College, Philadelphia, US, is the dance tour co-ordinator
(along with Jonathan Hollander). She has studied Manipuri Dance since childhood under the direction of the Jhaveri Sisters and Latasana Devi. This article was webcasted on August 31st, 2007
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