Thingbaijam Babu Singh

Thingbaijam Babu Singh was an Indian classical dancer, academic and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Manipuri.[1] He was the Pradhan Guru (chief instructor) of Pung and Raas traditions of Manipuri dance at the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.[2] Born on 8 February 1936 at Lairensajik, a small village in the state of Manipur, he was known to have been one of the notable choreographers[3] and teachers of Manipuri dance and had a long line of renowned performers such as Elam Endira Devi, Ibemubi Devi,[4] and Priti Patel, as his students.[5] Singh was the author of a book, Meitei Punglon Raga Ahouba,[6] and was a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for the year 1990.[7] The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian honour of the Padma Shri, in 2007, for his contributions to Manipuri dance.[8]