A three-day dance drama festival concluded at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA) which is under renovation in Imphal with the performance of a dance drama “Maan Vikshya” by Manipuri Jagoi Marup, Imphal.
The drama was choreographed by Th Bimola.
This time the Festival of Dance Drama was organized by JNMDA, Imphal featuring the best three productions of three prominent dance groups- JNMDA, Imphal, Manipuri Jagoi Marup and Manipuri Nartanalaya, Kolkata on the occasion of 43 years of Production Unit of the Academy.
The objective of the festival is to give the essence of dance dramas to the minds of the people of the state. Tradition of dance drama is going on with favour and vigour in the country.
The production unit of JNMDA was established in the year as a plan scheme in the five year plan and it was inaugurated by LP Singh the then governor of Manipur and chairman of JNMDA on January 16,1976.
JNMDA was born as Manipur Dance College at the Babupara theatre hall in Imphal on April 1,1954 and later renamed as JNMDA on June 8,1964 after the demise of the then PM Pandit Nehru to honour his contribution to the founding of the academy which is currently a constituent unit of Sangeet Natak Akademi New Delhi.
Presently the Academy is conducting various three years (foundation and diploma)dances and martial arts courses such as Raas, Lai Haraoba, Nata-Sankirtana (Esei), Nata-Sankirtana (Cholom), Nata-Sankirtana (Pung), Tribal Dance and Thang-ta etc.
On the second day of the festival, a dance drama “Ghana Baari Barikhata” by Manipuri Nartanalaya, Kolkata was staged and it was choreographed by solo dancer Bimbavati Devi of Manipuri Nartanalaya, one of the pioneering institute of manipuri dance, who is daughter of popular Guru Bipin Singh.
According to the synopsis of the drama, “Ghana Baari Barikhata”is traditional song sung in natasankirtanas in Manipur that describes the pungs of a nayika whose tears flow like ‘ghana baari’ or rainwaters when she sees her nayaka.
On the first day of the festival yesterday, a dance-drama called “Shakuntala” which was choreographed by Late W Lokendrajit Singh was performed by JNMDA, Imphal.
The inaugural function of the three day festival was attended by Manipur Governor Dr Najma Heptulla who is the Chairman of JNMDA and it was presided by Vice Chairman Prof H Tombi Singh of JNMDA.Director L Upendro Sharma of the academy also present.
