Aesthetics and Culture: Performing Arts

Title: Aesthetics and Culture: Performing Arts 
Editors: Dr. M.S. Siva Raju, Pukhrambam Lilabati Devi
Foreword: Prof. H. Nandakumar Sarma, Vice Chancellor, Manipur University
ISBN: 978-93-82395-83-6
Publisher: Ruby Press & Co.
First Edition: 2015
Language: English
Binding: Hard Cover
Category: Dance/Performing Arts

About the Editor(s):

*Dr. M.S. Siva Raju has a Masters Degree in Performing Arts (Dance) from Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad in the year 1989-91. He was awarded Ph.D. in 1997 for his research work on ‘Prahlāda Yakshagānam’: A comparative study of Kūchipūdi and Mélattūr Dance traditions, from the same University. 

He is exponent in South Indian Tala System and Dance Music.  He was fortunate enough to obtain knowledge in the areas of South Indian Music and music related nuances. 

He is an established dancer, music composer and choreographer. He has designed and choreographed more than a dozen dance ballets, many solo numbers and six large group compositions using about 500 participants for national events. He also designed and produced dance compositions for electronic media, which received appreciation from the art lovers. 

He frequently organizes workshops on Dance and Movement, Choreography and Music and Dance. He delivers lectures on the dance and music, rhythm and its dynamics, aesthetics in dance music and concert music apart from writing research articles. 

He has written a titled ‘Dancing to Pray or to Play’ comparative study of Kuchipudi and Melattur Bhagavatha Mela Dance Traditions, published by ‘Kanishka Publishers’, New Delhi, 2010.  Currently, he is working on a volume dealing with dance music and film dancers and the role of percussion instruments in Indian Dance forms. 

He has been teaching in the department of dance for the past 22 years.  He is presently working as Associate Professor in the Department of Dance, S.N. School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad.

**Pukhrambam Lilabati Devi began her formal dance education at Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy, Imphal from early childhood. She owes her family for their love and encouragement towards her professionalism in dance. She received 3 years Certificate Course, 3 years Diploma Course, and another 3 years Post Diploma Course in Ras from J.N.M.D.A. Imphal. She completed the Four year Diploma course in Bharata Natyam from Kalakshetra Foundation Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, Chennai She further completed Post Diploma course in Bharata Natyam from the above Foundation. She along with her sister was one of the first duo Manipuris to learn Bharata Natyam with scholarships and successfully completed the same. She was Selected a state nominee by the Directorate of Education (U), Government of Manipur, for specialization in the Master of Performing Arts in Hyderabad. She was also a member in the Academic Council of University of Hyderabad for the Academic Year 2008-2009. She than got the Gold Medal in Master of Performing Arts Examination held in year 2009 and was awarded the Nataraja Rama Krishna Sharada Devi Medal. She is pursuing Ph.D Dance at Hyderabad Central University. She has cleared U.G.C NET. Now she is working as Guest Lecturer Department of Dance (Manipuri), Manipur University (a Central university), Canchipur.

She is an enthusiastic young artiste struggling to explore the nuances of Bharata Natyam and Manipuri and Indian dance forms with academic insights. She firmly concludes that the goal of her life is solely to discover dance, discover herself.

About the Book:
The book entitled as “Aesthetics and Culture: Performing Arts” is completed and edited with the objectives of propounding the collective thought and views of some selected contributors who are widely scholarly involved as feather of the same flock i.e. the Artistic world. The contents of the book are mainly striving to unearth same of the innumerable aesthetic values under streaming in the world of culture which itself is the embodiment of the values of all facets of a society or nation. Elements of cultural heritages are inherited gifts from generations to generations and the basis of civilization. The aesthetic values of some selective Performing Arts are covered by the present book.