IMPHAL, February 24: Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal commemorating a milestone of 40 years of its production unit will be organising ‘Festival of Manipuri Dance and Music’ in Kerala in collaboration with the Kerala Kalamandalam, Thrussur, Kerala from February 26 to 28.
This was announced by Director JNMDA L Upendro Sharma during a press meet today held at the premises of the academy.
He said the three day festival will be organised and funded by the academy and its opening day will feature ‘Bidai Abhishap’ a drama based on Rabindraath Tagore’s poem and choreographed by N Amusana Devi.
The second day will witness another dance drama titled ‘Moirang Sha’ choreographed by W Lokendrajit Singh while JNMDA will showcase traditional Manipuri dance and music of Laiharaoba, Dhol-Dholok Cholom, Thang-Ta, Kabui Dance, Pung Cholom and Vasanta Raas on the last day.
He said a 27-member team of the academy has already reached Kerala for the festival.
Brochures on the completion of its 40 years of production unit and the festival have already been released, he continued.
Further according to a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the academy and the Kathak Kendra, JNMDA will organise a two-day Kathak Utsav on March 2 and 3 in Imphal, he said. The Kathak Utsav will be held at Chandrakirti auditorium located at Palace compound, Imphal.
He said the utsav will be attended by Guru Krishan Mohan Mishra with artistes of Kathak Kendra and Guru Rajendra Gangani with artistes of Kathak Kendra. They will mentor the artistes of the State, he said.
Also the academy will organise a dance exchange programme between the students of JNMDA and Kathak Kendra, New Delhi from March 1 to 6, he added.
The director JNMDA said that Kutiyattam, a 2000-year old dance form and officially recognised by UNESCO as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible heritage of Humanity will be showcased during a Kutiyattam Workshop from March 14-16 in collaboration with Kutiyattam Kendra, Trivandam in Imphal.