Guru Latasana Devi
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Born in Manipur, Latasana Devi was initiated into Manipuri dance at the age of eight. She received her early training at the prestigious Manipuri Nartanalaya, Imphal, under the guidance of Guneswari Devi. In 1980 she began intensive training with the renowned Guru Bipin Singh, Darshana Jhaveri, and Kalavati Devi in Kolkata. In addition to the above, Latasana Devi has learned Kartal Cholom (cymbal dance) from Guru Ojha Choabhal Singh, Nata Seishak (vocal training) from Guru Ojha Lakpati Singh and Pung Cholom (drum dance) from Guru Ojha Birmangal Singh. She is well versed in both dance and martial art forms, music, as well as drum playing.
In 1989 she received a scholarship from the Manipuri State Academy and moved to Mumbai. Working closely with the Jhaveri Sisters, she is presently a teacher and artiste of the Manipuri Nartanalaya in Mumbai. Her students have trained with her for more than 25 years and themselves have performed on the national television Doordarshan, as well as national festivals such as the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai.
With the Jhaveri sisters, she has presented lecture demonstrations and conducted workshops internationally in the U.K., Mexico and the U.S.A. With the SPICMACAY, along with Darshana Jhaveri and her students, she has conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations across schools and colleges in India including those in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and in New Delhi. She has led workshops and lecture demonstrations across various schools and educational institutes in Mumbai including SNDT and the prestigious IIT Mumbai.
An inspired performer, she has received accolades from the press and audience alike for her expertise in the Tandava (masculine) and Lasya (feminine) aspects of Manipuri dance. A recipient of the Nartanalankar and Nartan Visharad diplomas and the Nartanachrya title from Manipuri Nartanalaya, she has also been awarded the Shringarmani title from Sur Sringar Samsad, Mumbai. In 1986, she stood first in the Sangeet Nritya Protiyogi ta organized by the Government of West Bengal.
As a senior artiste of Manipuri Nartanalaya for the past 30 years, Latasana has participated in various programmes with the Jhaveri Sisters in India and abroad. She has performed in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and the India festival in France. In 1993 she toured the U.S.A. and Mexico with the Jhaveri Sisters as part of the India Culture Delegation. Later that year, she represented India at the International Drum Dance Festival held in Indonesia. In 1996, she undertook a three-month dance tour with Darshana Jhaveri in the U.S.A., U.K. and Mexico. An invitation for a solo performance at the India Festival took her to Milan, Italy in April 2002.
Latasana has also danced at prestigious festivals across India, including the Khajuraho Millennium Festival where she performed with the Jhaveri Sisters. She has been part of the Ganga Festival (Benaras), Nishigandhi Festival (Trivandrum), Haridas Sammelan (Mumbai), Laudin Khan festival (Maihar) and Chhand Festival, Bharat Bhavan (Bhopal). At the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, she presented a duet with another artist.
Since 1987 she has continuously represented the Manipuri Nartanalaya in the Solo Dance Festival organized by the Manipur State Kala Academy. In 1994, Latasana presented Exploration at the India International Centre, New Delhi. She has participated in the Yuva Mahotsav held in Mumbai. In 1997, she performed at the Bhagyachandra Dance Festival in Imphal and in 1999, at the Astha Nayika event organized by the Nehru Centre.
An innovative and talented choreographer, she was invited by the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai to present her productions Nachom in 2012, and Ishanao in 2015. She has also collaborated with artists from different Indian classical dance styles in a production inspired by Kalidas' 'Ritu Vilasam'. She assists Padmashri Darshana Jhaveri in choreography and research work as well.
Latasana has a deep and abiding interest in the Manipuri dance form. In 1994 she received a junior fellowship from the Department of Culture, Government of India, to conduct research in the field of Classical Manipuri Dancing. A top grade artiste and an accomplished performer for Doordarshan (the Indian national television channel), she is also an impaneled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
In 1989 she received a scholarship from the Manipuri State Academy and moved to Mumbai. Working closely with the Jhaveri Sisters, she is presently a teacher and artiste of the Manipuri Nartanalaya in Mumbai. Her students have trained with her for more than 25 years and themselves have performed on the national television Doordarshan, as well as national festivals such as the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai.
With the Jhaveri sisters, she has presented lecture demonstrations and conducted workshops internationally in the U.K., Mexico and the U.S.A. With the SPICMACAY, along with Darshana Jhaveri and her students, she has conducted workshops and lecture demonstrations across schools and colleges in India including those in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal, Assam, Chattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and in New Delhi. She has led workshops and lecture demonstrations across various schools and educational institutes in Mumbai including SNDT and the prestigious IIT Mumbai.
An inspired performer, she has received accolades from the press and audience alike for her expertise in the Tandava (masculine) and Lasya (feminine) aspects of Manipuri dance. A recipient of the Nartanalankar and Nartan Visharad diplomas and the Nartanachrya title from Manipuri Nartanalaya, she has also been awarded the Shringarmani title from Sur Sringar Samsad, Mumbai. In 1986, she stood first in the Sangeet Nritya Protiyogi ta organized by the Government of West Bengal.
As a senior artiste of Manipuri Nartanalaya for the past 30 years, Latasana has participated in various programmes with the Jhaveri Sisters in India and abroad. She has performed in Thailand, Singapore, Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Japan, and the India festival in France. In 1993 she toured the U.S.A. and Mexico with the Jhaveri Sisters as part of the India Culture Delegation. Later that year, she represented India at the International Drum Dance Festival held in Indonesia. In 1996, she undertook a three-month dance tour with Darshana Jhaveri in the U.S.A., U.K. and Mexico. An invitation for a solo performance at the India Festival took her to Milan, Italy in April 2002.
Latasana has also danced at prestigious festivals across India, including the Khajuraho Millennium Festival where she performed with the Jhaveri Sisters. She has been part of the Ganga Festival (Benaras), Nishigandhi Festival (Trivandrum), Haridas Sammelan (Mumbai), Laudin Khan festival (Maihar) and Chhand Festival, Bharat Bhavan (Bhopal). At the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, she presented a duet with another artist.
Since 1987 she has continuously represented the Manipuri Nartanalaya in the Solo Dance Festival organized by the Manipur State Kala Academy. In 1994, Latasana presented Exploration at the India International Centre, New Delhi. She has participated in the Yuva Mahotsav held in Mumbai. In 1997, she performed at the Bhagyachandra Dance Festival in Imphal and in 1999, at the Astha Nayika event organized by the Nehru Centre.
An innovative and talented choreographer, she was invited by the Kala Ghoda Arts Festival in Mumbai to present her productions Nachom in 2012, and Ishanao in 2015. She has also collaborated with artists from different Indian classical dance styles in a production inspired by Kalidas' 'Ritu Vilasam'. She assists Padmashri Darshana Jhaveri in choreography and research work as well.
Latasana has a deep and abiding interest in the Manipuri dance form. In 1994 she received a junior fellowship from the Department of Culture, Government of India, to conduct research in the field of Classical Manipuri Dancing. A top grade artiste and an accomplished performer for Doordarshan (the Indian national television channel), she is also an impaneled artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).