Dances of Manipur
There are many different dance styles from Manipur, a state in northeastern India bordering with Myanmar, Assam, Nagaland and Mizoram. Manipuri dances encompasses both classical and folk dance forms. The Raas Leela is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. The folk dance forms are mainly attributed to ancient Meitei deities such as Umang Lai and performed during Lai Haraoba, and also the dances of the different tribal communities of Manipur.
The Manipuri dance, in general, is a team performance, with its own unique costumes, aesthetics, conventions and repertoire. Manipuri dance is a religious art and its aim is the expression of spiritual values. Aspects of this performance art is celebrated during festivals and major rites of passage such as weddings among the Manipuri people, particularly in the ethnic majority of Meitei people.
There are numerous dance forms of Manipur, comprising both classical and folk dances of the different communities residing in the state. Some of them are provided below.
Raas Leela
The Raas Leela is based on Hindu Vaishnavism themes and exquisite performances of the love-inspired dance drama of Radha-Krishna called Raas Leela.The roots of the Manipuri Raas Leela dance, as with all classical Indian dances, is the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text Natya Shastra, with influences and the cultural fusion between various local folk dance forms. With evidence of Vishnu temples in the medieval eradance style.jpg|thumb|Raas Leela
The Raas Leela is based on Hindu Vaishnavism themes and exquisite performances of the love-inspired dance drama of Radha-Krishna called Raas Leela.
The roots of the Manipuri Raas Leela dance, as with all classical Indian dances, is the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text Natya Shastra, with influences and the cultural fusion between various local folk dance forms. With evidence of Vishnu temples in the medieval era, this dance form has been passed down verbally from generation to generation as an oral tradition. This Manipuri dance drama is, for the most part, marked by a performance that is graceful, fluid, and sinuous with greater emphasis on hand and upper body gestures. It is accompanied with devotional music created with many instruments, with the beat set by cymbals and double-headed drum of sankirtan. The dance drama choreography shares the plays and stories of Vaishnavite Padavalis, that also inspired the major Gaudiya Vaishnava-related performance arts found in Assam and West Bengal.