Manipuri – Dance — Textbook & Study Material

Download the official textbook for Manipuri – Dance and see the full chapter list so you know exactly what to cover.

Official textbook download

Manipuri – Dance — official textbook — Free download from the official source.

What you will study (chapters)

Chapter 1: Brief history of Indian dance and traditional dance/drama
Chapter 2: Themes from the Puranas in Manipuri dance (Ramayana, Bhagavata Purana, Gita Govinda; Nongpok Ningthou & Panthoibi)
Chapter 3: History of Manipuri Dance (Lai Haraoba, Ras Leela, Sankirtana, Goshtha Leela)
Chapter 4: Repertoire and literary contents (Ras Leela, Krishna Abhisar, Radha Nartan, Punglon Jagoi, Kartal Cholom)
Chapter 5: Distinctive aspects of Manipuri dance (Lasya and Tandava; footwork)
Chapter 6: Folk dances of Manipuri (Thabal Chongbi, Keetlam, Chaplam)
Chapter 7: Practical: Basic postures, movements and footwork in Tanchap Tala
Chapter 8: Practical: Hand movements and gestures (Chali, Champra Okpi, Khujeng Leibi)
Chapter 9: Practical: Chali for feminine and masculine, including Chali Areibi
Chapter 10: Practical: Matras and Talas in Manipuri Pung (Talas: Tanchap, Menkup)
Chapter 11: Practical: Lai Haraoba – Lasya & Tandava; Jagoi (Khamba Thoibi; Lai Ikouba; Laiching Jagoi)
Chapter 12: Practical: Folk dances (Thabal Chongbi, Keetlam, Chaplam)

Frequently asked questions

Is the Manipuri – Dance textbook available for free?

Yes — the book linked above is a free download. We link to the source rather than re-hosting it, so you always get the current edition. Check the edition against the syllabus for your exam year.

Is the Manipuri – Dance textbook enough to score well, or do I need extra notes?

The official textbook is the core — most exam questions are set directly from it, so read it thoroughly first. Add concise notes and solved past papers for revision and exam practice rather than switching to unofficial books.

How should I study the Manipuri – Dance textbook chapter by chapter?

Cover the high-weightage chapters first (use the exam pattern as a guide), make a one-page summary per chapter, and immediately solve a few past-paper questions on it. Active recall beats passive re-reading.

How can I prepare for Manipuri – Dance faster?

Begin with the most-frequently-asked topics and the last few years of question papers, then test yourself under timed conditions. If you want guided help, you can use the free AI study tutor for Manipuri – Dance — practise past-paper questions and get instant feedback — or a focused Manipuri – Dance study guide that condenses the syllabus into the topics that matter most — both are free to start.