Nachom: Exploring Harmony through Manipuri Dance Writings

This publication gathers history, transformations and choreographies in the field of Manipuri dance traditions primarily from the perspective of practitioners’ experiences, recollections and proficiency. The book aims to collate a gamut of themes ranging from the dances performed in the centuries-old socio-religious ritual – the Lai Haraoba, as well as contemporary, thematic productions staged for a curious audience. The book is a compilation of essays penned by renowned artists as well as emerging dancers and scholars who highlight a broad range of interests, information, experiences, and practices associated with Manipuri dance style(s). Manipuri dance tradition can be viewed as the oldest and the youngest classical dance style of India. Believed to have originated thousands of years ago from the rituals and oral traditions performed by indigenous communities residing in the region now called Manipur, movements and philosophies have undergone metamorphosis and developed into practices which were very distinct from rest of India. Since late 18th century, with the influence of Gaudiya Vaishnav texts, philosophy, poetic and musical styles, new rituals and forms of dancing such as the Raaslila and Nata Sankirtana came to exist alongside the Meitei community practices of Huiyen Lallong and Lai Haraoba – each of which shaped the landscape of Manipuri dance today. These movement traditions are recognised as living traditions where dance and music are offered to the pantheons of many divinities every season. This publication attempts to bring the many dimensions of Manipuri dance to fore – most importantly, how rituals that are danced can also take the shape of a choreography, and how movements traverse between enshrined spaces and the proscenium stage. This publication has been conceived and planned for the Silver Jubilee celebration of Purbachal Navanandanik Movement Arts (Kolkata, India) – an institution specialising on classical Manipuri dance founded in 1996 by Vidus