IMPHAL, May 6: A three-day-long ‘Festival of Lai Haraoba’ was inaugurated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inaugural function, JN Dance Academy Director L Upendro Sharma said that the aim of organising such festivals was especially for the students of the academy and which would be a practical class too, adding that every student needs practical classes and only giving lectures will not be sufficient.
Students will be expelled if they don’t attend the lecture cum demonstration programs during the festival. Students must work hard for the improvement of their future career and should not rely on teachers only, he said, adding that the festival is organised in collaboration with the Ibudhou Chakkhaba and Ibendhou Haoraoba located within the premises.
JNMDA Vice chairman Prof N Tombi Singh said that performance alone will not improve the dance and needs to be discussed and explored.
Moreover, to know more about Lai Haraoba only lectures won’t be sufficient as it also need to be explored and performance must be given. As a part of the festival, an assignment will be given to each student. The assignment given is not in the books so the students much conduct field surveys and complete their topics, he said.
Students who do their best will be awarded, he asserted.
Song and dance is an important field and the history of communities can be traced through their songs and dances. For Meiteis, Lai Haraoba depicts properly their history, he added.
In the today’s inauguration, Chakpa Andro Haraoba was demonstrated and Kakching Haraoba, Phayeng Haraoba performanaces will be given on May 7 and 8.
