Priti Patel is one of the most outstanding exponents of Manipuri dance.
She has been trained in Manipuri dance from eminent gurus such as Late Guru Bipin Singh and the Jhaveri Sisters, specially Darshana Jhaveri and Kalavati Devi in the Vaishnavite and Ras Leela forms of Manipuri dance tradition. She took training in the ‘Sankirtana’ and ‘Ras Leela’ traditions from guru Padmashri late Ojha Babu Singh and Ojha Thoranisabi Devi, in the “Thang-ta” tradition by A Gaura Kishore Sharma, and advanced training in “Thang-ta” by eminent scholar Padmashri late Pandit N. Khelchandra Singh.
In Lai Haraoba tradition she was trained by Late Ojha Kumar Maibi.
Padmashri late Maharajkumari Binodini Devi the eminent Manipuri literature and scholor has, over the years, given Priti Patel information on the origin, history, importance and the very ethos of Manipuri dance, culture and society.
Priti is known for her pioneering work in Manipuri style where all the 4 forms of Manipuri Dance, namely Thang-ta, Lai-Haraoba, Sankirtana, and Rasleela come together. Some of her noted choreographic works are : “Chitra” – the princess of Manipur, which won the Uday Shankar Dance Award in 2000,“Kshitish” the Horizen –which won the Mrinalini Sarabhai Award in 2000, Agni – the Sacred Fire, The Throw of Dice , which had incorporated the rare art form of story telling –The Wari Liba. One of the path breaking choreographies was Khuman – the Black Sun and Nongthang Leima , which are based on Manipuri poems and legends and address the present turmoil in Manipur . Yaiphabi – The Blessed , was presented by Kalakshetra and Ministry of Culture, and for the first time the ritualistic Lai Haraoba was performed outside Manipur .
Priti Patel has undergone formal training from the Lesley College, Boston in the United States of America in dance and Movement Therapy and has worked with special children in collaboration with the Indian Institute for Cerebral Palsy.
In November 1995 Priti founded Anjika – a centre for Manipuri dance and movement therapy. Anjika is engaged in propagating and preserving the sanctity of Manipuri dance style. Anjika is also a school for Movement Therapy for children suffering from cerebral palsy.
Priti Patel has performed at extensively al all prestigious venues and festivals of the world. She has written articles for newspapers and magazines and has made films on Manipuri Style.
In November 1995, through the efforts of Pandit N. Khelchandra Singh and Maharajkumari Binodinio Devi, who wanted to hand over to Priti Patel the torch of imparting education in this unique dance tradition to students outside Manipur, Priti Patel laid foundation of a unique school called “Anjika” in Kolkata.
Priti Patel has through her school Anjika, not just been imparting training and expertise in this dance form in the same unique tradition that has been followed over the ages, but has also been teaching her students the value system that has been passed down the generations.
Anjika, as a school, has dual curriculum. It is a school for Manipuri dance and is also a school for Movement Therapy for children suffering from cerebral palsy. Priti Patel has undergone formal training from the Lesley College, Boston in the United States of America in dance and Movement Therapy and has worked with special children in collaboration with the Indian Institute for Cerebral Palsy. She has developed this unique for of therapy where these special children with a motor co-ordination disorder are given movement therapy through the medium of dance. Manipuri dance, in its uniqueness of being dance with gentle, smooth and fluid movements helps these special children in gaining control over their limbs; and in doing so, this medium of expression helps them in uplifting their spirit and helps them to gain confidence. This pioneering work by Priti Patel has proved to be successful and Anjika has seen the growth and development of some special children in this field. A student of Priti Patel, Suryasekher Basu, suffering from Down syndrome has been awarded the “Shri Umedbhai Patel Award” for excellence in dance by Anjika, an award given to special children in this field.
Anjika operates from Kolkata, where besides Priti Patel herself, the staff includes some very skilled young artistes, including from Imphal in Manipur. In Kolkata. The school imparts formal education and training in the dance form, besides being a resource center of artistes for all its performances. The Imphal chapter of Anjika, which was initially intended to be only a resources center for artistes for its shows and performances, has also recently started functioning as an informal training center for young students in Manipur. Anjika also conducts research and documentation in this dance form and has its own, though humble, library of literature, audio and video cassettes on this form of art; Anjika has performed in several prestigious dance shows all over the world and has won a number of laurels and accolades for itself. Priti Patel has herself, received innumerable awards in appreciation of her work and excellence in this dance form.