Guru Bipin Singh, often called the father of modern Manipuri dance, was renowned for which dance?

Explanation

Guru Bipin Singh (1918-2000) was the most important guru of Manipuri dance in the 20th century. He is often called the father of modern Manipuri dance, because of his work to preserve, study, teach and present the dance to audiences across India and the world.

Bipin Singh was born in Assam, into a Manipuri family, and he learnt Manipuri dance, music and the drum (pung) from many traditional gurus. He spent years studying the old texts, the Ras Leela, the Lai Haraoba, the Sankirtana tradition and the martial art Thang-Ta, and he collected and documented many forms of dance that were in danger of being lost. He was known for his deep knowledge of the theory of Manipuri dance and for his creative choreography, which presented the classical tradition in a form suitable for the modern stage, while keeping its devotional spirit. He trained many famous dancers, especially the four Jhaveri sisters (Nayana, Suverna, Ranjana and Darshana), with whom he founded the Manipuri Nartanalaya in Mumbai (1972), Kolkata and Imphal. He also founded the Govindaji Nartanalaya in Imphal. The Maharaja of Manipur gave him the title "Nrityacharya". He received the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and the Kalidas Samman.

Manipuri dance is the classical dance of Manipur. Its most famous form is the Ras Leela, which depicts Radha, Krishna and the gopis. It has two aspects, the graceful Jagoi and the vigorous Cholom, and its dancers avoid eye contact with the audience. The female dancers wear the stiff, cylindrical Potloi skirt.

Why not the other options?

• ✗Sattriya is the classical dance of Assam, linked with gurus such as Jatin Goswami.
• ✗Odissi is the classical dance of Odisha, linked with gurus such as Kelucharan Mohapatra.
• ✗Kathak is the classical dance of North India, linked with gurus such as Birju Maharaj.