PROGRAMS

 

MANIPUR FIELD TRIP FOR AMERICAN ARTISTS

70+ individual and group programs
November 18-27, 2004

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 18
13:00 Afternoon
GROUP FLIES TO IMPHAL
From NSCB Domestic Airport, Kolkata

14:15 Afternoon
ARRIVAL
GO TO ACCOMODATION, WASH-UP:

15:00 Afternoon
WELCOME GIFTS AT SOMI'S
SHOPPING AT RANI'S

Shopping for traditional clothes for the Temple the next day. One white wrap at least.

Place: Wangkhei Leikai
Shopping Guide: Ranjana

17:00 Evening
TRADITIONAL MUSIC CONCERT

Place: Somi's House
Contact: MK Binodini

MOIRANG KANGLEIROL BALLAD AND PENA PERFORMANCE
Mangangsana And Company

KHULLANG ISEI AND KHUNUNG ISEI
Folksong by Langathel Thoinu and Oja Khangembam Mangi

19:00 Evening
ORIENTATION DINNER AT SOMI'S

Place: Somi's house, Yaiskul
After Dinner: Group goes over itinerary.
Invitees: Dave, Gope, Biki, Usha, Ranjana, Lancha

***

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19
Wear Manipuri attire!

08:30 Morning
VISIT WITH RATAN THIYAM
Tour of Chorus Repertory Theater, Meet with Press

Place: Chorus Repertory, Samusang

10:00 Morning
USOP AT BIJOY GOBINDA

Observation of traditional feast.

Place: Bijoy Gobinda Temple, Sagolband

13:00 Afternoon
QUICK BOX LUNCH

Place: Temple Board Office, Palace Grounds

13:00 - 17:00 Afternoon.

SANJENBA AT PALACE TEMPLE
Outdoor Manipuri Children's Ballet Opera ritual.

Place: Gobindaji Temple and Palace Grounds
Guide: MK Binodini

17:00 Afternoon
LES VISITS MONKEY TEMPLE

Walking companion: Sudarshan

19:00 Night
WELCOME DINNER AND SCREENINGS
Manipuri and American films.

Place: Minister Deben Thoudam's Quarters, Babupara
Host: Mrs. Thoudam, Dave
Special Invitees: Rebika, Joy, MK Binodini, Santi, Chourjit

Films:
REAL (Dave Thoudam, 2004, 10 min, Video)
GAP-TOOTHED WOMEN (Les Blank, 1987, 31 min, Video)

***

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 20
INDIAN PRIME MINISTER ARRIVES
Protest shut down in Imphal till 12 midnight

08:30 Morning
DANCE CLASS WITH RASE
Meet with Dancer-choreographer Rase and her dancers at her Home Dance Studio.

Place: Naga Mapan Soram Leirak
Contact: Rase, Akabi

Dances: BASANTA RAS
PHISAROL (SHAMAN WEAVERS DANCE)


14:00 Afternoon
ERIN'S OJA BORIBA
Oja Debabrata, her martial-arts teacher, accepts Erin. Oja Khelchandra attends.

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Motcha, Senior Student

15:00 Afternoon
MIKE PRESENTS BASEBALLS
Presentation of videos and baseballs to baseball players.

Place: Somi's House
Contact: Somi, Ragini, Jitan

15:30 Afternoon
LES VISITS THE FLOWER SHOW
Flowers and a visit to Sudarshan's home.

Place: Yaiskul
Walking Companion: Sudarshan

18:00 Afternoon
LES PRESENTS HIS FILMS

Smell-o-rama screening with roasting garlic heads, followed by discussion.

Place: Somi's Place
Contact: Lancha Ningthouja

Films:
GARLIC IS AS GOOD AS TEN MOTHERS (1980, 51 min., video)
LIGHTIN' HOPKINS

19:30 Night
DINNER AT MICHELLE'S

Place: Residence of RK Dorendra, Yumnam Leikai.
Contact: Michelle Shija
Special invitees: Amrik Singh, Rajib Salam, Devadutta

***

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 21

06:15 Morning
ERIN'S ONE-ONE-ONE THANG-TA INTRODUCTORY LESSON

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact and Instructor: Motcha

09:00 Morning
TINKAO RAGWANG WORSHIP
NAGA VILLAGE WALK THROUGH

Indigenous Zeliangrong Tribal Religious Service.

Place: Chingmeirong Kabui Village
Guide: Professor Gangmumei Kamei

12:00 Noon
SANA KEITHEL

Women's Market for Zette and Erin.
Place: Sana Keithel, Khwairaman

12:00 Noon
YOSHIKO ARRIVES
Pick-up by Somi and Dave.

15:30 Afternoon
YOSHIKO GOES TO CHORUS REPERTORY

Sudarshan takes her to see Ratan Thiyam's theater.

19:00 Night
EVENING WITH MANIPURI FILMMAKERS
Screenings followed by dinner.

Place: Deputy Chief Minister's Quarters, Babupara
Contact: Dave, Lancha

Films:
ORCHIDS OF MANIPUR (Aribam Syam Sharma, Year, 30 min, Video)

OUR GAME: Part One of BASEBALL (Ken Burns, 1998, 120 min, Video)

***

MONDAY, NOVEMBER. 22
06:00 Morning
ERIN'S THANG-TA LESSON

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Motcha

09:00 Morning
OJA KHELCHANDRA'S MANUSCRIPTS COLLECTION
Visit with historian and archivist.

Place: Uripok
Host: Oja Khelchandra

11:00 Morning
SHOW AND TELL WITH FARMERS' KIDS
Zette, Bonnie, Yoshiko and Les visit classes.

Place: Reliance School, Samusang
Guide: Dr. Usha Salam

12:30 Afternoon
LUNCH WITH BIKI AND USHA
DYLAN AND NAGA SONGS BY REUBEN

Agriculture gathering.

Place: Biki's farmhouse, Luwangsangbam Village
Special invitees: Khuraijam Dhiren, Lairikyengbam Gokulmani, Reuben, Angom Jugindro, Salam Geetabali.

14:00 Afternoon
EXHIBITION POLO: INTERNATIONAL AND PANA KANGJEI
International Style and Traditional Manipuri Style Polo.

Place: Kangjeibung Polo Ground
Contact: Dr. Nara, Dr. Chourjit

14:45 Afternoon
INTERVIEW BY EFFECTIVE TELEVISION CHANNEL
With the whole group.

Place: Kangjeibung Polo Ground
Contact: Sunzu

11:00 Morning
TOUR OF KANGLA FORT
Guided tour of moated palace fort.

Place: Kangla Fort
Guide: Oja Khelchandra, historian and archivist
With: MK Binodini, Sudarshan, Ranjana, Dave

17:30 Afternoon
SHALLOW RIVER MUSIC ALBUM LAUNCH
Les Blank and filmmakers.

Place: Shallow River Studios, Khuyathong
Contact: Dave

16:00 Afternoon
BONNIE AND YOSHIKO'S INTERACTION WITH RASE'S DANCERS 1

Place: Rase's Home Dance Studio, Soram Leirak
Contact and Interpreter: Gope

19:00 Night
HARE KRISHNA DINNER HOSTED BY DR. NARA
With Dr. Chourjit
Place: Gopal's Pizza, ISKCON

***

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 23
06:15 Morning
ERIN'S THANG-TA LESSON

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Motcha

07:00 Morning
MIKE, RAGINI AND SOMI'S TOUR OF THEIR BASEBALL FIELD OF DREAMS

Place: Taobungkhok Village, Patsoi
Contact and Guide: Ragini, Pakpa

11:00 Morning
MIKE AT CATWALK BEAUTY PARLOR
Mike does her hair.

Contact: Ragini

13:00 Afternoon
LUNCH AT MANIPUR UNIVERSITY
With Faculty and Students

Place: Manipur University Guest House, Langthabal
Host: RK Ranjan, Registrar
Invitees: MK Binodini, Dr. Bimola

13:00 Afternoon
MIKE'S PRESENTATION: LISTENING TO VOLCANOES (Video, 1996, 60 min.)
Screening and discussion with students and faculty. Mike stays on; others leave.

Place: Manipur University
Contact and Host: RK Ranjan, Dr. Bijoy, VC
Special Invitees: MK Binodini

15:00 Afternoon
ERIN MEETS SANAKHWA EBOTOMBI
Erin meets with the theater director.

Place: Keisamthong
Contact: Gope

15:00 Afternoon
YOSHIKO'S INTERACTION WITH DANCERS 2
Place: Rase's Home Dance Studio, Soram Leirak

Contact and Interpreter: Somi

15:00 Afternoon
ZETTE AND BONNIE'S PRESENTATION

On small museums and international arts projects. Tour of museum.

Place: Manipur State Museum
Host: Sobita Devi, Chief Curator
Contact: Rajesh

15:00 Afternoon
LES MEETS SAMARENDRA
Tea with a poet.

Place: Laisram Samarendra's Residence, Yaiskul
Contact: Somi

17:30 Evening
COURTYARD THEATER: WORLD TRADE CENTRE
Sumaang Lila Play on 9/11 by Sana Leibak Nachom Artistes. Courtyard Theater Mini-Festival

Place: Sumaang Lila Sanglen, Konung Lampak
Guide: Dr. Nara

19:00 Night
DINNER AT GOPE'S
Place: Naga Mapan, Phousubam Leirak
Special invitee: Thambal Devi

***


Wedding dress acquired by Newark Museum

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24
06:15 Morning
ERIN'S THANG-TA LESSON
Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong

Contact: Motcha

09:00 Morning
A VISIT WITH A SHAMAN
Discussion and demonstration of shaman Weavers' Dance with Oja Kumar Maibi, male shaman priestess.

Place: Oja Kumar Maibi's House, Singjamei
Guide: MK Binodini

11:00 Morning
SILK WEAVERS
Visit loin-loom weavers.

Place: Khurai Kongpan
Contact: Somi

12:00 Noon
USOP: A TRADITIONAL FEAST
Traditional Memorial Lunch for RK Sanatomba; ritual lunch design by Mangi Sija. Manipuri mourning attire mandatory.

Place: Palace Compound
Host: MK Binodini
Special Invitee: Khedir, Rani of Thangmeiband

14:00 Afternoon
SANKIRTAN CONCERT AT SKWAR'S WEDDING
Somi's nephew RK Chingkhei gets married. You can dress Western if you like; traditional Manipuri dress preferred.

Place: Heirangoithong
Contact: RK Ronen, Somi

18:00 Evening
YOSHIKO'S DANCE PRESENTATION

With Mao Tribal Dance and Shaman Weavers' Dance.
Place: Kalimai Mantop, Kali Temple, Yaiskul
Contact: Somi

20:00 Evening
SCREENING: MANIFESTATIONS OF SHIVA
Introduced by Mike Peters.

Place: Kalimai Mantop, Kali Temple, Yaiskul
Contact: Somi

20:00 Night
DINNER AT RANJANA'S

Place: Kwakeithel
Screening: ASEAN Motor Car Rally and July 2004 Human Rights Agitation footage.
Special invitees: Rajesh Salam, David

***

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 25
06:15 Morning
ERIN'S THANG-TA LESSON

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Motcha

09:00 Morning
BASEBALL GAME
Men and women teams.
Dave and Bonnie sing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
Les Blank makes the first pitch.

Place: Eastern Grounds, Konung Lampak
Contact: Ragini, Jitan, Ratan, Kiran, Bhanu

09:00 Morning
ERIN MEETS KANHAILAL
Erin meets with the theater director and actress Sabitri.

Place: Langol Laimanai
Contact: Lancha

09:30 Morning
MISS EMMONS BAKING CLASS FOR YOUNG LADIES
Zette bakes with Michelle and her friends.

Place: Michelle's, Yumnam Leikai
Host: Michelle

Cakes made:
CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
ORANGE CUPCAKES
APPLE AND CINNAMON CAKE

Participants:
Babyla Jassal, English teacher
Shubra Kingdang, Rajasthani Boutique owner
Mimi Longjam, boutique owner
Pinky Narula, boutique owner
Lembi Sanjenbam, owner of a bakery
Sonia Sharma, Hyundai saleswoman
Michelle Shija, host and organizer
Nanao Shija, housewife

12:00 Noon
BURGER AND COKE PICNIC LUNCH
After-game lunch with baseball players.

Place: Eastern Grounds, Konung Lampak
Contact and host: Ragini

14:00 Afternoon
SOMI PICKS UP TURKEYS AT AIRPORT

16:00 Afternoon
MAHA RAS REHEARSAL
SANDHYA ARATI: TEMPLE EVENING SERVICE

Yoshiko and Bonnie attend rehearsal of temple dance.

Place: Gobindaji Temple

17:00 Evening
SCREENINGS OF MANIPURI AND AMERICAN FILMS
Lancha Ningthouja discusses his films and Mike Peters shows a film about baseball.

Place: Somi's House


Films:
THE DREAM (Lancha Ningthouja, 2001, 27 min, video)
BUT IT NEVER RAINED (Lancha Ningthouja, 2003, 39 min, video)
FIELD OF DREAMS (Phil Alden Robinson, 1989, 106 min, video)

20:00 Night
MANIPURI-AMERICAN THANKSGIVING TURKEY DINNER.
We host. We cook.

Place: Somi's House.
Special invitees: All hosts including Michelle, RK Ranjan, Gope, Ranjana, Ragini, Bikram, Dr. Nara, Dave,

***

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 26
06:15 Morning
ERIN'S THANG-TA LESSON
Rest of the Group to Visit.

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Motcha

07:00 Morning
VISIT TO HULA MARTIAL ARTS CLASS
See Erin perform with her class.

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Somi

08:00 Morning
SOROKHAIBAM IBOMCHA'S BRIDAL DRESS WORKSHOP
Zette's final wedding dress look-over for Newark Museum.

Location: Sagolband Moirang Leirak.
Contact and Guide: M K Binodini

09:30 Morning on.
MIKE SPENDS THE DAY WITH DAVE
Shopping for gifts and screenings of Dave's commercials and PSA videos for World AIDS Day.

Films:
A TEENAGER SPEAK OUT (Dave, 60 sec, 2004, video)
A DOCTOR SPEAKS OUT (Dave, 2004, 60 sec, video)
LANDMARK COMPUTERS COMMERCIAL (Dave, 2003, 60 sec, video)
COMMERCIALS FOR SHALLOW RIVER STUDIOS (Dave, 2003, video)

09:30 Morning
A DAY IN THE COUNTRY
Drive to Khongjom, 35 km south of Imphal

Contact and Guide: Dr. Nara

10:00 Morning
KHONGJOM WAR MEMORIAL
Reception and Flower Offering Ceremony at 1891 Battle Site.

Place: Khongjom

10:30 Morning
PARENTS' DAY TOUR OF SLOPELAND PUBLIC SCHOOL
Reception by schoolchildren and parents.

Place: Slopeland School, Khongjom

11:00 Morning
INAUGURATION OF SCHOOL SECRETARY'S QUARTERS
Ribbon cutting by Les Blank for the group. Flower and incense offering.

Place: Slopeland School, Khongjom

11:30 Morning
PRESS CONFERENCE: OUR EXPERIENCE IN MANIPUR
Yoshiko performs.
Parents and schoolchildren attend.

Place: Slopeland School Open-Air Auditorium

12:30 Afternoon
SCHOOL LUNCH
Hosted by Dr. Nara

Place: Slopeland School Dinning Hall, Khongjom

13:30 Afternoon
PRESS CONFERENCE: OUR EXPERIENCE IN MANIPUR
We tell of our trip so far. Yoshiko performs. Parents and schoolchildren attend. Group makes a donation to the school.

Place: Slopeland School Open-Air Auditorium, Khongjom


14:30 Afternoon
COURTYARD THEATER: THE ROSE OF LIDICE
TRAILER PREVIEW OFUPCOMING ATTRACTION

Sana Leibak Nachom Artistes performs a play about Czechoslovakia 1944. Preceded by a preview of KHAMBA-THOIBI, their next play. Parents and schoolchildren attend.

Place: Slopeland School Open-Air Stage, Khongjom

16:00 Afternoon
THABAL CHONGBI
Traditional folk dance. All join in.

Place: Slopeland School Open-Air Stage, Khongjom

DISCO NAP
GET INTO TRADITIONAL ATTIRE


20:00 Night
HOME DINNER
Family meal with no invited guests. Change for Maha Ras
Les, Mike, Bonnie, Yoshiko with the Thoudam Family
Zette, Erin with Somi

21:00 - 01:00 Night

KONUNG MAHA RAS AT PALACE TEMPLE
Manipuri Dance Ritual.

Place: Gobindaji Temple, Palace
Guide: MK Binodini

***

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 27
07:00 Morning
ERIN'S CABLE TV INTERVIEW
Motcha and reporters from ISTV interview Erin about Thang-Ta.

Place: Somi's House
Contact: Motcha

09:30 Morning
FAREWELL MEETING WITH HOST DEBEN THOUDAM
Whole group.

Place: Deputy Chief Minister's Quarters, Babupara
Contact: Somi, Dave

10:30 Morning
ERIN AND KANHAILAL: THEATER EXERCISES
Erin and theater director Kanhailal exchange theater exercise techniques.

Place: Kanhailal's Theater, Langol Laimanai
Contact: Lancha Ningthouja

11:00 Morning

YOSHIKO AT SHALLOW RIVER AND KANHAILAL STUDIOS
Screenings and meeting with young audio and visual media artists. Meet with the theater director and company.

Place: Shallow River Studios, Khuyathong
Contact: Dave

Films:
THE LIVING ROOM PROJECT (Yoshiko Chuma, work-in-progress, video)
BREAKING TAO (Meisnam Leichil Luwang, 2003, 5 min, video)
REAL (Dave, 2004, 10 min, video)

12:30 Morning
YOSHIKO MEETS KANHAILAL
Meet with the theater director and company.

Place: Langol Laimanai
Contact: Lancha

12:30 Afternoon
ERIN'S FINAL THANG-TA CEREMONY
With Oja Debabrata

Place: Hula Martial Arts, Keisamthong
Contact: Motcha

13:30 Afternoon
ALL LEAVE FOR KOLKATA
ZETTE TO NEW DELHI
ERIN TO NEW YORK

***

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 28
17:00 Evening
DANCE PRESENTATION FOR KOLKATA CHOREOGRAPHERS
Yoshiko and Bonnie meet the dance community. Press to attend.

Place: Anjika Center, Kolkata
Host: Priti Patel

END