Shantibala Sinha

🪔 About

Shantibala Sinha is a renowned Manipuri dancer and exponent, widely recognized as the "Mother of Manipuri dance in Bangladesh" for her significant contributions to the art form in the country. She played a pivotal role in popularizing the teachings and Manipuri dance style of Guru Bipin Singha in Bangladesh, particularly through her work at Chhayanat. Sinha's influence extended to incorporating Manipuri dance, a distinctive art form of the Manipuri community in Sylhet, into the mainstream national culture of Bangladesh. She was instrumental as a dance teacher at Chhayanat in Dhaka during the 1980s, where she familiarized students with Manipuri as a classical dance form, imparting its grammar and control over movements. Her dedication and teaching have inspired and trained many of the current Manipuri dancers in Bangladesh. She was brought to Dhaka from Sylhet by the noted Tagore exponent Waheedul Haque to teach at Chhayanat. Her legacy is carried forward by her direct students who continue to propagate the Manipuri style. Awards & Honours: World Dance Day Award (2007).