Manipuri dance is one of the eight major Indian classical dance forms. It originated in Manipur, a state in north-eastern India bordering Myanmar. The dance form has its own distinctive aesthetics, values, conventions and ethics.

The cult of Radha and Krishna, particularly the Rasa Leela (The Dance of Divine Love) is central to its themes. Manipuri dancers do not wear ankle bells to accentuate the beats tapped out by the feet, in contrast with other Indian dance forms. Movements of the body and feet and facial expressions in Manipuri dance are subtle and aim at devotion and grace.

Photo: Matsukin