Priti Patel

Priti Patel (born 28 February 1960 in Indore, Madhya Pradesh) is an Indian classical dancer specializing in Manipuri dance. She received her early training under prominent Manipuri dance gurus, including Guru Bipin Singh, Darshana Jhaveri, and Kalavati Devi. Her advanced training also included guidance from Guru Thingbaijam Babu Singh, while she studied traditional forms such as Lai Haraoba and the martial art Thang-ta under Ojha Kumar Maibi, Ojha Gaurkishore Sharma, and Ojha Khelchandra Singh. She further studied the aesthetics and cultural context of Manipuri dance with Maharajkumari Binodini Devi.

Over several decades of performance and research, Priti Patel has developed a distinctive choreographic approach within the Manipuri dance tradition. Her work integrates elements from traditional Manipuri performance practices, including Sankirtana, Rasleela, Lai Haraoba rituals, and Thang-ta martial movements. Through these influences, she has presented choreographic productions such as Malem—A Homage to Mother Earth, Khuman—The Black Sun, Agni—The Sacred Fire, and Surya Gati. Her performances have been presented at numerous cultural festivals and classical dance platforms in India and internationally.

Priti Patel is also active as a teacher and researcher in the field of Manipuri dance. She founded the Anjika Centre for Manipuri Dance and Movement Therapy in Kolkata and Imphal, where training, research, and documentation related to the dance form are carried out. In recognition of her contributions to Indian classical dance, she has received several honors, including the Mrinalini Sarabhai Award from the Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, the Uday Shankar Dance Award, and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Manipuri dance in 2011.