Kalavati Devi: A master Manipuri dancer

Kalavati in a Manipuri stance

Describing her forte, Kalavati said, "So far I am not satisfied with my performance and I don't actively perform now. I teach my students the techniques of Manipuri dance and try to make room for them in the world of performing arts.

"At present my daughter Bimbhavati Devi is carrying on the tradition. And here in Bangladesh my successful disciples are Sharmila Bandyopadhyay and Tamanna Rahman among others."

Kalavati was here in the early 1980s at the invitation of Chhayanaut. About her Bangladesh experience, she said, "It is always very pleasant to be here. I want to teach the students the elements of the Manipuri genre and enable them to carry on the Guru Shishya Parampara."

One gets a clear picture of Kalavati's devotion to dance by talking to her students. Sharmila Bandyopadhyay says, "Kalavati Devi has established the style of Manipuri dance created by Bipin Singh in Dhaka. True, I had learned those mudras 10 or 12 years back, which I am re-learning from her." Then take the case of Shubrata Das. Taking dance lessons under Kalavati since 1997, Das says, "It is a blessing for me that I can learn the art of Manipuri dance from the guru of my guru. Tamanna Rahman is my guru in Bangladesh who took her lessons under Kalavati ma."

Kalavati took her dance lessons in her childhood under the dance gurus Khetritombi Devi, Eiga Kumari and Gambhini Devi. But it was not until 1955 when Kalavati started to take dance lessons in a systematic way under Guru Bipin Singh. Guru Ibungomcha Sharma and Guru Moitoitomba Singh were also her mentors for some time. Later, she gained expertise in different styles such as like Natpala and Dhrumel.

Kalavati stepped into the role of a dance teacher in Gobindoji Nartanaloy for three years. In 1972 she established Manipuri Nartanaloy in Kolkata with the help of Guru Bipin Singh and the Jhaveri sisters. At present she is the departmental head of Manipuri Dance Department and a senior lecturer of Rabindrabharati University. As the principal of Manipuri Nartanaloy, Kalavati Devi has dedicated her whole life to dance and train her students.

She has travelled to many countries as the representative of the Indian Government. Among her best performances are Gopigoshthi, Bashantoras, Maharash, Krishnakoli, Tasher Desh, Kalmrigoya, Chitrangada and Bhanushingher Podaboli.

An expert in the theoretical aspects of dance, she has written two books Shastrio Manipurinartan and Manipuri Tal Prokash for the learners.

Kalavati is interested in working on different elements of Manipuri dance. As she recounts, "I did a fusion dance, blending the Odissi style with Maharashtra dance style. It was a dance drama where Radha is originated in Odissya and Krishna is Manipuri, based on the mythical story. I have a plan of blending Kathak with the Manipuri genre. I am preparing scripts on different Naads, the different melodious sounds attract me."

"Hard work is the only key to success," she says. "One must not look for fame or recognition. Look at me, I come from a remote area of Imphal and have always worked hard to gain expertise in dance. I suffered a lot initially and learned from my errors. I train the young learners to a level so that they can answer different questions without any hesitation," she says.