There is a plan to give free training to talented students and offer stipend to really deserving ones and also encourage students from other countries by providing them every possible help in learning Manipuri dance.

Public performances

Guru Singhajit Singh and Charu Sija Mathur are regularly booked for Manipuri dance performances both in India and abroad. Their recent trip to the Edinbrough Festival as well as the performances at Spain, Italy and Germany in August 2002 was a great success. They with their five or six supporting artists make the most exciting team presenting a great variety of dances reflecting the exquisite richness of the dance style. Whenever the occasion demands they also take a bigger group of about 10 or 12 more artists comprising of well-trained dancers and musicians. To see a Manipuri dance recital is indeed an exhilarating experience transporting the audience to an exotic land where dance is still a living tradition. 


Repertoire

Guru Singhajit Singh and Charu Mathur with their troupe have a wide range of items with tremendous varieties. There are solos, duets and groups covering a large spectrum of dances in terms of theme, dance, music and costumes covering both traditional and new works. The following are a few examples:-

1. Ras Leela. The colorful rendering of various episodes of Radha and Krishna. There are five kinds of Ras Leelas in Manipur and the troupe presents short excerpts to suit the occasion. This can be solo, duet or group.

2. Pung Cholom. This number is an unusual extract from the Manipuri Sankirtana (devotional singing in the temples). The drummers play and dance at the same time. Ranging from soft graceful to extremely vigorous movements the Manipuri drum dance is certainly one of the most popular numbers for its sheer virtuosity and vigour.

3. Geeta Govinda. Certainly the most popular Sanskrit poetry performed in every form of classical Indian dance this work of the poet Jayadeva forms a wonderful theme for the graceful feminine mode of Manipuri dance. Renderings of the poems never fail to evoke the highest level of romantic devotion as expressed in these poems.

4. Dhol Cholom or drum of Holi. Holi, the Indian festival of colours is held during the spring season. Various drums are played and the drummers dance in gay abandons, reflecting the spirit of the festival. Besides the beauty of the dance this number is known for sheer vigor, virtuosity and acrobatic movements.

5. Arjun Chitrangada. This number renders an episode from the Mahabharata showing a competition of dance between Arjuna one of the Pandava princes and Chitrangada the princess of Manipur.

6. Abhimanyu. An episode from the Mahabharata this is a very powerful rendering of the story of Abhimanyu who entered the Chakravyuha or the wheel formation of the enemy alone and fought valiantly against many warriors in an unequal fight and gave his life. This number uses the martial arts movements of Manipur very extensively. Performed solo

7. Kirata Arjuna. Again another powerful number based on the Mahabharata when Arjuna prays to god Shiva for a divine weapon and god comes disguised as a hunter and fights with Arjuna to see if he deserves getting the weapon. Rendering both heroism and pathos this number also uses the Manipuri martial arts movements.

8. Kartal Cholom. Another Manipuri dance number from the Sankirtana or devotional singing in the temples. Here the dancers play a pair of cymbals and perform dignified masculine dance movements,.

9. Drauopadi Swayamvara. Taken from the Mahabharata this number portrays the wedding of the princess Draupadi. The condition is that whoever succeeds in shooting a target with an arrow through a rotating wheel by looking at a reflection would get the hand of the beautiful princess. Everyone else fails and Arjuna succeeds in the almost impossible task. There is also a fight between Arjuna and the assembled nobles who failed in the effort. Arjuna defeats them all and takes away his bride.

10. Maibi. Maibis are high priestess in the Pre Vaishnavite temples of Manipur. They are star performers in the Lai Haraoba festival and also officiate in the elaborate rituals. Like the oracles of ancient Greece they act like mediums and the deities speak through them. This number shows the Maibi performing the dance of invocation awakening the deity from slumber.

11. Terena. Singing musical syllables without meaningful words is known as Tarana in North India and Tillana in South India. In Manipuri it is called Terena. This number is a pure dance composition based on such a song.

12. Ballets. The troupe has many ballets or dance dramas in its repertoire. At the moment Nupi Lan (women's struggle) and Search (based on a story of Mahabharata) is performance ready. The rest can be readied after a rehearsal of about two months.

13. Kaliya daman. The boy Krishna playing with his friends on the banks of Yamuna throws the ball into the river where the poisonous snake Kaliya dwells, dangerously poisoning the water. Krishna jumps into the water to retrieve the ball. There ensues a terrible fight between Krishna and the snake. He finally subdues the serpent and dances on his many hoods.

14. Dashavatar. The ten incarnations of God is performed in every style of Indian classical dance. The Manipuri rendering makes very good use of the different dance forms within the style including jagoi, cholom and the martial arts, making each incarnation lively and well delineated. 

Lecture demonstration of Guru singhajit and Charu Mathur have always been a special attractions with a great deal of information about the culture of Manipur and also revealing less known exotic information about an extremely rich living art form. These lecture demonstrations have proved to be extremely popular in universities, colleges and schools both in India and abroad.

Seminars and papers:- Guru Singhajit Singh has spoken at various prestigious seminars and also have contributed articles and papers for various publications. One of his books is in the press.

Countries visited:- besides appearing at various prestigious national and international festivals Guru Singhajit Singh and Charu Mathur with their troupe have performed in countries like:- 
Mexico, Venezuela, Syria, Tunisia, Japank Thailand, Malaysia, Switzerland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, Finland, Russia, China, Austria, U.S.A, U.K, Nepal, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Spain, Italy, Egypt, France, Yugoslavia, 

The troupe is open for booking. All contacts at the following:-
Singhajit and Charu 
54 Bharati Artist Colony
Vikas Marg
Delhi 110092 India
Tel: 22500110, Tel/Fax 22541642
E mail: kusumit@del3.vsnl.net.in