The Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, a constituent Unit of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, is the premier institution for teaching of Manipuri Dance and Music and allied subjects like Thang-Ta. Established in 1954, it offers comprehensive courses on the abovementioned subjects. The institution has on its staff, teachers of eminence and a Production Unit with a large repertoire of critically acclaimed dance-dramas. The management of the Academy is vested with the Executive Board of the Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi which is assisted by an Advisory Committee chaired by His Excellency, Governor of Manipur in matters of policy and maintenance of standards.

i) Objective & Scope

The Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy is named after the first Prime Minister of India. It established in 1954. The objective of the Dance Academy is to train students in Manipuri dance , music and allied arts. The JNMDA is a premier national institute located in Imphal for the promotion and preservation of Manipuri arts. It has well structured training courses of elementary and advanced levels in Manipuri Ras and Nat Sankirtan and it also imparts training in tribal dances, Lai Haraoba and thang-ta. JNMDA also has a repertory unit which has presented performances all over India and in many countries abroad. Its dance drama productions have earned wide accolades.

ii) Major achievements made during Xth five year plan and anticipated achievements for the current financial year.

The Academy has brought out 50 dancers and musicians who had passed 3-year Post Diploma Course and 150 dancers and musicians who had finished 3-year Diploma Course. The Production Unit added Dance-Dramas to its repertoire and the artistes of the Academy present programmes of Manipuri Dance and Music in various places.

Lecture-cum-Demonstration was also held as regular feature of the Academy’s activities. During the last five years, eminent scholars and dancers gave Lecture-cum-Demonstration on various dance forms of India e.g. Mrs. Leela Samson on Bharatanatyam, Smt. Devajani Chaltha on Manipuri Dance, Dr.Sunil Kothari on Smt. Kamala Devi Chattopadhyaya, Ms. Chitra Visheswaran and her troupe on Bharatanatyam, etc.

The Academy also organized JNMDA Festival of Dance and Music in the National level and JNMDA Festival of Young Dancers and Musicians in the State level. Eminent dancers and musicians from all over the country participated in the National Festivals.

During current financial year regular activities as above will continue.

iv) Projection for the XI Plan : During XI plan it is proposed to develop JNMDA as a national institution of excellence or a deemed university. For this purpose a review committee was changes upgrading its academic programme. Apart from developing training and educational activities as envisaged, one training branch of the institution is also proposed to be opened in Delhi.