“My family says I started to dance before I could walk,” says Anusua Roy with a laugh.
Now based in Melbourne, Roy is a Manipuri classical dancer who began her journey into this major Indian classical dance form, originating from the state of Manipur, while growing up in Kolkata.
“My mother wanted me to learn dancing. Luckily, Gauri Datta, a disciple of Guru Bipin Singh, had a dance school right next to our house, and that’s how my initiation into Manipuri dance began,” she says.
After training with Datta for 17 years and continuing as a repertoire member of her school, Roy started her own dance classes during her first year of college.
However, marriage led her to move to another Indian city, Mumbai. Roy was fortunate to connect with Latasana Devi, a Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee and another disciple of Guru Bipin Singh, who belonged to the same gharana (school) as him.
“I trained under her and also performed with her.”
A pivotal moment in her career came in 2013 when, during a solo performance at the Nehru Centre in Mumbai, she was noticed by none other than Darshana Jhaveri, a leading Manipuri dance exponent and Padmashri recipient, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.
Having learned the Manipuri dance form with sincerity and utmost devotion, Roy says, “I love every aspect of it—the gracefulness, the fluidity, the gorgeous costumes, and the beautiful songs.”
But more importantly, Roy believes it’s essential to understand the dance forms one practices. “All my teachers were insistent that we know the shastras (scriptures). We studied the Puranas alongside our dance training. So, for me, homework was never a chore—I loved history as a subject. Knowing the history behind each dance piece I was learning was something I truly cherished.”
Manipuri dance has been deeply influenced by the Natya Shastra tradition. The narratives behind each choreography and composition often revolve around the love story of Krishna and Radha, as well as the tales of Krishna’s childhood pranks with the cowherd boys.
“As a devotee of Krishna, I took to Manipuri dance like a fish to water,” Roy says. “This is not just dance for me; it’s my nitya sewa (service) to Krishna.”
Over the years, Roy has had many memorable performances worldwide, but one that stands out is the first time she performed Manbhanjan, a duet featuring Radha and Krishna.
“I always wanted to perform this piece. When Darshana ji felt I was ready after six years of training with her, she taught me, and we performed it together on stage. I played Krishna—it was a milestone moment for me. I was living my dream dancing this piece alongside her.”
Roy moved to Melbourne last year and, within two months of her arrival, introduced Manipuri dance to an audience that had never experienced it before.
Of their response, she says, “They loved it. It was the first time they had seen a Manipuri dance performance. They not only enjoyed the songs and the story but also the costumes, which were a visual treat.”
Roy now runs Manipuri Nartanalaya, teaching Melburnians a dance form that is unique and steeped in devotion. She follows the established course set by Guru Bipin Singh, which preserves the traditional essence of Manipuri dance while maintaining its purity.
Roy believes it is crucial for today’s youth and the general public to experience a variety of dance and art forms to gain a deeper understanding of India’s rich cultural heritage and traditions.
She notes that people outside India are often only familiar with Bharatanatyam, Kathak, and Bollywood. By introducing Manipuri dance to Melbourne, she aims to broaden their exposure and appreciation of the diversity within Indian art forms.
“People should know not just about Manipuri dance but also about Manipur, the beautiful state of India from where this dance form originates,” she says.
Roy’s efforts to introduce Manipuri dance add to the city’s cultural diversity, offering new perspectives and deepening appreciation for global traditions.
One reason for moving to Melbourne was the opportunities. “Melbourne has welcomed me with open arms,” Roy says.
The Indian Sun acknowledges the support of the Victorian Government.
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