Dance.

I am a performer/ choreographer, and the co-director of a performance collaborative -  Mitradheya.

I have received extensive training in classical Manipuri dance under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Poushali Chatterjee in late Oja Bipin Singh’s style for over 30 years. I have expanded my practice with further instructions in various sub-genres of Manipuri from Padma Shri Darshana Jhaveri of Jhaveri Sisters troupe, Padma Shri Ima Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi, SNA Awardee Prof. Sruti Bandopadhyay of Sangit Bhavan, Shantiniketan, and SNA Awardee Oja Ranjeet Chingtham Khuman from Imphal, Manipur.

An empanelled artist with Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). India, I have received Nritya Visharad in classical Manipuri dance from Pracheen Kala Kendra (Chandigarh), and a Diploma in classical and contemporary dance and stagecraft from Children’s Little Theatre (Kolkata). I am an active member of Nandanik Movement Arts (Kolkata) since its inception in 1996. I have presented my dance and research across India, and in Austria, Bangladesh, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Lithuania, Malaysia, Singapore, Sweden, Taiwan, Türkiye, United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

Besides classical Manipuri performances as a soloist and ensemble artist, I am a performance maker, currently working on braiding research-based stories with practice, contemplating Research-as-Practice as a companion model to Practice-led-Research (PaR).

Research-as-Practice performances: 

Don't Hold Back the River, 2024 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=de-OCG_rIfM

Unhusked, 2025  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNJR4o6_1gQ

Videos at: https://www.youtube.com/@debanjalimanipuri