ARTISTS
Naila Azad
Naila Azad is an actress trained in National School of Drama and UCLA. She was exposed to Manipuri dance as a child in Bangladesh and later received training in Bharatnatyam from Viji Prakash in Los Angeles. She started learning Manipuri Dance in Manipuri Dance Visions since its inception in 2005 and has performed and toured with Manipuri Dance Visions Ensemble all over North America.
Krishnakali Dasgupta
Krishnakali Dasgupta was initiated dances at a very young age in Children’s Little Theater. At that stage she studied Kathakali under Guru Govindan Kutty. After finishing her course in Children's Little Theatre, Krishnakali Dasgupta underwent specialised training in Manipuri Dance under Smt Poushali Chatterjee in Nandanik Academy, Kolkata and also from the Late Guru Bipin Singh and Smt Kalavati Devi in Manipuri Nartanalaya, Kolkata, when she trained in both masculine (tandava) and feminine (lasya) sub-styles of Manipuri dance and pung (Manipuri drums). Later she studied Manipuri martial arts (Thang-ta) from Ranjeet Chingtham. Krishnakali was chosen by Nehru Children's Museum to represent India in solo Manipuri Dance performances all over Germany in 1997.
She has performed at various prestigious festivals in Calcutta and other parts of India. She has received the Senior Scholarship for Manipuri Dance from the Department of Culture, Govt. of India. In 2004, Krishnakali has received the prestigious Shringarmoni title from the Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai. In 2006 she moved to the United States and started advanced solo training in Manipuri Dance with Dr. Sohini Ray in Manipuri Dance Visions. Since then she is a regular performer in Manipuri Dance Visions Ensemble, the only Manipuri Dance Company based in Los Angeles.
Srabani Samanta
Srabani Samanta was initiated to Manipuri dance at the age of four in Manipuri Nartanalaya, Kolkata and received training from Guru Bipin singh, Kalavati Devi, Darshana Jhaveri and Kunjo Singh for twenty-three years. At age 12, She was the first Bengali woman student to learn Manipuri drum dance, the pung cholom and perform it in the 1970s. Currently based in Manchester, UK she is pursuing her dance career under the guidance of Dr. Sohini Ray, learning from and performing with her regularly.
Dasni Lakpriya
Dasni Lakpriya is a student of fourth grade in Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies Dasni is currently the youngest student in Manipuri Dance Visions. Despite her young age she has shown keen interest in Manipuri dance. Originally from Sri Lanka Dasni’s grandfather and grandmother were the pioneers in reviving Sri Lankan folk theater in the 1950s; her parents both dancer and actress are directors of the Sapthabhumi, the only Sri Lankan dance company in the Los Angeles area.
