Rajkumar Singhajit Singh | |
|---|---|
 Singh with his wife Charu Sija Mathur in 2008 | |
| Born | (1931-05-01)1 May 1931 |
| Died | 23 November 2024(2024-11-23) (aged 93) |
| Occupation(s) | Classical Indian dancer (Manipuri dance), choreographer, scholar |
| Awards | Sangeet Natak Akademi Award;Tagore Award |
| Website | www |
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh (1 May 1931 – 23 November 2024) was a leading exponent, choreographer and aguru ofIndian classical dance form ofManipuri, including thePung cholom andRaslila.[1] He was awarded theSangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1984[2] and thePadma Shri in 1986 for his contribution to theManipuri dance. In the year 2011,Sangeet Natak Akademi, India'sThe National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama, awarded him its highest award, theSangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship for his contribution toIndian Dance. In 2014 he was also conferred with theTagore Award.
Guru Singhajit Singh and his wife Charu Sija Mathur, who is also aSangeet Natak Akademi Award recipient, have established,Manipuri Nrityashram, aManipuri dance school, in New Delhi.
Rajkumar Singhajit Singh was born in a family of dancers and musicians inManipur. Early in life, he was fortunate to receive his dance education from the finest gurus ofManipuri dance, starting with ‘Guru Ojha Iboton Singh’ (1942–46) for Pung (drum), followed by ‘Guru Amubi Singh’ (1948–54) – Jagoi; ‘Guru Thambal Angou Singh’ (1950–52) - Kartal Chalom; ‘Guru Chauba Singh’ (1952–53) - Kartal Chalom; and with ‘Guru Ojha Gaura Singh’ (1952–53) from whom he learned the martial arts with Sword & Spear,[3] and soon established himself as a dancer, choreographer and artist of repute.[4]
He joinedTriveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi, in 1954, as Head of the Manipur Dance Section, and later in 1962, founded the ‘Triveni Ballet’ of which he was Director and Principal Dancer.[3]
Over the years, he and his dance troupe, have extensively travelled to several countries in Europe, the former USSR, North and South America, Japan, West Asia and Africa.[3] Their recent choreography,Ashta Nayika, has received wide recognition, from both viewers and critics alike.[5][6]
Singh died on 23 November 2024, at the age of 93.[7]
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