What is Manipuri dance?
{{Distinguish|Dances of Manipur}} {{Classical dances of India}} [[File:A Manipuri Dancer in traditional Krishna attire.jpg|thumb|220px|A Manipuri dancer]] '''Manipuri dance''', originally known as '''Manipuri Rasa Leela Dance''' is a classical dance form originated from the [[Manipuri culture]] of the [[States of India|Indian state]] of [[Manipur]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/art/manipuri|title=Manipuri &#124; History, Characteristics, & Facts &#124; Britannica}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=manipur.Arts_and_Culture.Ras_Lila_Manipuri_Classical_Dance|title = Ras Lila Manipuri Classical Dance}}</ref> The classical style of the dance is described as being the most graceful of all the Indian classical dances. [[Rabindranath Tagore]] used the style for his female characters in his famous dance dramas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://manipuri.20m.com/history_of_manipuri_dance.html |title=History of Manipuri Dance |work=manipuri.20m.com |accessdate=28 August 2010 |archive-date=3 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101003020350/http://manipuri.20m.com/history_of_manipuri_dance.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Manipur shares a border with [[Burma]]. The people of Manipur are part of the Mongoloid group, with a very rich and artistic culture. ==Description== [[File:Rasa Lila in Manipuri dance style.jpg|thumb|left|Rasa Leela in Manipuri dance style.]] The ''Rasalila'' of Manipur is said to be one of the highlights of India culture. It is through the [[Rasalila]] that the people of Manipur reach the highest bliss of worship. Following the ''Srimadbhagavata'', the core text of Chaitanite Vaishnavism, the first ''Rasalila Maharas'' was composed in 1779. The story as laid down in the [[Bhagavata]] was performed in the temple. A ''Rasamandali'', a circular dance area,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://mayapur.com/node/1333 |title=20 Vesha's Offered By Girl's Gurukula |work=mayapur.com |accessdate=28 August 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=January 2021