Cultural dance: A sure shot way to stronger ties
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, May 06: It was the usual thundering round of applause that unfailing greeted the dancers after rendition of any Manipuri classical dance form.

But the zealous performance was unique and significant in the sense that among the troupe there were young tribal girls who had taken up Manipuri classical dance with a mission � cultural integration of Manipur.

Coming from different communities like Zou, Kuki, Thangal, Chothe, these tribal girls have been sponsored to learn Manipuri classical dance at the JN Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal as part of the pet project of Fr Mark Aimeng, the programme co-ordinator of Radio Veritas Asia (Zomi-Chin Service), Pastoral Audio-Visual Centre at Mantripukhri.

Children from different communities perform a dance

'Living in the midst of Meiteis, tribal people should also try to learn and get the taste of Manipuri classical dance.

This way we can also do our bit in bringing about cultural integration among the people of the State', Fr Mark said during an interaction with The Sangai Express.

'When boys and girls in the valley have been learning tribal dances of the Kabuis and Mao-Maram tribes and even outperforming the tribal people themselves along with getting recognition of their performances not only at the National but also at the International fora, why can't the tribal people do the same ?', he reasoned.

Taking up the challenge, five students of Christ Jyoti School at Mantripukhri, run by the Archdiocese, were sponsored for the first batch and they were sent for learning classical Manipur dance at JN Manipur Dance Academy in April last year.

The students have completed their first semester (year) and are now progressing to the second semester of the dance class.

On the initial difficulties faced, Fr Mark recalled that it was rather difficult to convince the tribal people to learn Manipuri classical dance, as they were under the impression that it is something not required.

'In fact, one of the sponsored students had to drop midway due to pressure from her parents who feared that their daughter would suffer academically in taking up dance class and study simultaneously', Fr Mark said, while expressing that 'shining academically is not the only way, one has to shine in all aspects'.

Moreover, the students were apprehensive as they were not well-versed in Manipuri language, said the Father.

Inspite of all these initial hiccups, the success of the first performance of Manipuri classical dance by the tribal girls at the auditorium of the Retreat House on April 26 this year at the occasion of golden jubilee celebration of Fr Joseph Mattam's first visit to Manipur was an eye-opener not only for the students themselves but also for many people, both tribal and non-tribals.

After the success of the first performance, the young dancers yet again enthralled the capacity crowd during a function yesterday.

Attached with the Retreat House of the Archdiocese, the auditorium presented a perfect picture of social and cultural integration of Manipur with a morphed image of the panoramic beauty of the Loktak Lake and the enchanting wild blooms of the Dzuko valley forming the background of the stage and flanks decorated with images of rites and rituals of different religions.

Speaking of other dream projects including development of Mantripukhri, where the famed St Joseph's Cathedral is located, as a modern township and establishment of a well-equipped college, Fr Mark, however, had the last word on the dilemma of working for a good cause in Manipur, when he said, 'Manipur has great many good people who are really concerned about the real issues of the people, but the debilitating force of some pressure groups is strong that many of the dreams remained unfulfilled'.