In August, Noopur will be joining SUNY Purchase College of Performance Arts, New York as a freshman. She is the first among the Manipuri younger generations going to college. College graduation itself is a life time achievement in America.

Noopur Singha is daughter of Shri Nabaghana Singha and Ms Christel Stevens from Maryland. She is brought up in a perfect atmosphere of dance and music. From a very tender age she has learned Manipuri dance, Kathakali and later modern dance and ballet. She had performed in the East Coast of United States and some in California at the professional level following footsteps of both parents. She has both the delicateness of Manipuri Dance and prowess of Western dance. She has picked up different musical instruments as her favorites. She is competent in Meitei Pung, Piano, Flute and saxophone. The list is endless. I talked to her about this experience recently.

Congratulations! We are all excited about your achievement. How did you get into this college?
I went to four or five colleges for the interview in Washington, Virginia and New York and this was my firs choice because of wide range of subjects taught. There were about hundred candidates and ten of us are selected for this course. There was an audition for ballet, modern and a piece of choreograph. I think I did well there.

You are already a pro and what are you going to learn there?
There are so many things to learn. Modern dance is what I would like to concentrate. By the 2nd year I have to produce a choreograph. This is a course for solid 4 years of hard work. As a freshman, I would be doing the liberal arts, modern dance, ballet, college writing and music survey.

How are you going to support yourself?
I have won some scholarships and grants from the government. This will help to pay some of the tuition. I will be working in the campus once I get the work permit. I was late in applying this time. My parents will chip in some.

Do you see yourself in the Broadway or Carnegie Center after college?
That would be wonderful. That is something I will keep in mind. My goal is choreography and freelance.

Who most influenced in your career?
Everyone particularly my parents have been very supportive. My schoolteachers encouraged me to apply in these colleges. Everyone gave the right advice.

You have done so many performances, do you ever feel nervous anytime?
Not really. I have always enjoyed this. I feel good about it. Before any program, how long do you practice on any piece? It varies but at least a good 3 weeks.

What is your hobby?
I like to write music. I wrote one recently for a violin piece for a friend of mine. I like listening to music including jazz. I like to play different instruments. I always thought I could not sing but to my surprise it is actually good. I am going to polish it a bit more. My brother Nabin really sings well. I play Softball, soccer and basketball. But recently I have focussed on dance and music.

What did you enjoy most in your visit to Manipur?
O, that is wonderful. I like Sumang Leela, marble and playing with kids.

Where do you place Manipuri dance as you see?
I love Manipuri Dance. It is so rare and beautiful. It has progressed and developed over the time. There is a touch of modern choreography. It is ancient and classical yet it is always pushing to the new grounds. This is somewhat in the style of Indonesia, Balaneese but these have not had much of a change. Manipuri Dance is very modern.

What are your favorite things?
Rice and Ooti are my favorite. My papa cooks it so well. Nothing tastes better. Mikhail Barishnikov is my all time favorite dancer. He is from Russia. I like books by C.S. Lewis when I was young. But now Allen Lightman is my writer. I just finished "Einstein's Dream". It is awesome. I like every sentence he writes.

What would be your advice to the young students?
Experience as much as possible. There are so many things to learn. Keep an open mind. You can always improve with hard work.

We all wish her success. With her determination and hard work she will surely be in the limelight. Congratulations to her proud parents and Grandma who have always been a source of inspiration.