Maestro Thapa: Creator Of Dance Grammar

Bhairab Bahadur Thapa, ‘Aatrya,’ a legendary dance maestro, has dedicated his life to dance. His unparalleled passion for dance drives him to tirelessly advocate for its importance. For over seven decades, he has dedicated himself to the research, preservation, and exploration of Nepali traditional dance. 

Thapa is a pioneer of Nepali opera and ballat dance and a key promoter of folk dance.  He created various forms of dance, including the Peacock dance, Yak dance, Jhankri dance, Danphe dance, Padma Sambhav dance, and numerous other traditional dances.

 At 92 years old, Thapa is pouring his heart and soul into preserving Nepal’s rich cultural heritage. His lifelong commitment has not only safeguarded traditional dance but also established him as a founder in advancing both traditional and contemporary dance in the country.

Thapa’s pioneering role is underscored by his appointment as the first dance director of Nepal. This title was conferred by the Public Service Commission in the Department of Archives and Culture in 1955. He also served as a dance director at the Cultural Corporation. 

His dance notation book, Nrityaakshar Bigyan, which is also translated to Bhairab Alpha Science in English, reflects his intricate understanding and exploration of dance as a science and a spiritual expression.

What makes the book particularly interesting is that it took Thapa 60 years to write, followed by an additional five years of experimentation to complete this monumental work, resulting in a total of 65 years of effort. He experimented with the dance forms with two girls and two boys. 

He described Nrityaakshar Bigyan as the ‘epic of dance’, as it systematically organises various dance forms into a clear and structured system. Just as grammar guides language, Bhairab Alpha Science methodically captures the art of dance, classifying movements, rhythms, and expressions through line graphs. 

"This book is the grammar of dance, and it depicts various emotions and expressions through various symbols," said Thapa. 

Referring to mythological examples, he noted that while ancient sages researched many aspects of the universe, they overlooked Nirtya Lipi (dance notation). He asserted that his book introduced a dance script designed to clarify and elucidate each movement of dance in the current era of Kali Yug. 

 "Describing a dance movement (a beat) typically requires half a full-page for detailed explanation. However, I have summarised it into a succinct line in the book," said Thapa. 

Reflecting on his writing journey and the dance movements he represented through graphs and drawings, Thapa recalled how his friend once expressed concern to his wife about his obsession, fearing it might drive him to madness. “Out of concern, my wife burnt all my works,” he laughed. 

Thapa began writing his book in 1956 using a special ‘Mao pen’ that he received as a token of appreciation from Mao Zedong, the first chairman of the People’s Republic of China.  In 1954, Thapa had the opportunity to perform a solo emotional dance titled ‘Farmer’s Life and Tambourine’ in China, where he performed in front of Mao Zedong. Mao was enthralled by Thapa’s poignant performance and gifted him the ‘Mao Pen’ as a symbol of recognition, also taking the time to shake hands with him.

 Breaking barriers

Thapa, a well-known astrologer, colour therapist, scholar, and writer, shared his journey into the world of dance, a field traditionally deemed unacceptable for men. To pursue his passion, he had to challenge deeply ingrained societal prejudices. 

He remembered that in Nepal, dance was often met with disdain, with a widespread belief that witnessing a male dancer would bring bad luck and spoil any auspicious occasion. Looking back, he noted that men who wished to perform often had to disguise themselves as women. 

Thapa was born in 1933 in Kamal Pokhari, Kathmandu, to mother Tumbula Younjan Thapa, ‘Aalmanoor’ Aatrya, and father Padam Bahadur Thapa, ‘Aatrya’.

 At just 17, he joined the British Gorkha Army in 1950, serving in the First Six Battalion in Malaya.  One of the turning points of his early career came on June 2, 1953, during the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, when he captivated his battalion officers with an all-night dance performance. His extraordinary talent earned him a special six-month leave in recognition of his skills. 

After returning from his duties on September 19, 1953, Thapa performed at the convention of the Nepal Farmers' Association, where his dance drew the attention of students from Durbar High School, Juddha Public High School, and other schools in Kathmandu. As inspired by the student's eagerness to learn dance from him, Thapa was motivated to be a dance teacher and educator. The student's eagerness to learn from him inspired Thapa to become a dance trainer and educator. 

 Notable followers 

On February 21, 1954, legendary playwright Balkrishna Sama founded the Bhairab Nritya Dal, which encourages Thapa’s influence in the dance community. Despite societal attitudes at the time, which often viewed dance as a low-class activity, Thapa’s charismatic performances inspired students who were eager to learn.

He proudly claimed that his dance had the power to mesmerise the hearts of great leaders, from Mao Zedong to King Mahendra, BP Koirala, Pushpa Lal Shrestha, and Tanka Prasad Acharya. 

Former royal queens Aishwarya Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah, Komal Rajya Lakshmi Devi Shah, and their sister Prekshya Shah were his disciples.

Thapa was also praised by Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé, Resident Representative of UNDP Nepal in 2024. Writing about Thapa's book, she mentioned, “This book is not just a set of annotations but also a grammar and dictionary, and a legacy of dance for the globe.”

Notable disciples of Bhairab Bahadur Thapa include Bhuwan Chand, Chaityadevi, Subhadra Adhikari, Hari Bansha Acharya, and the late Jayananda Lama. Thapa choreographed films such as Maan Ko Bandh and Neer Shah’s Pacchis Basanta. He has also published books, including Nepali Dance Primary—Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 in 1965; Dhoka, a poetry collection; Hinda Hindai Baneka Tashvirharu in 2008; Samarpan in 2010; and Himali Natya Mimansaa in 2015.

 Dream and achievement

Despite making significant contributions to the dance sector, Thapa feels that dance is still frequently undervalued. He aspires to establish a university focused on graduating dancers, whom he refers to as ‘Alpha dancers.’ Additionally, he plans to translate Bhairab Alpha Science into Arabic and Urdu, intending to distribute this dance grammar book worldwide. He also aims to establish Bhairab Alpha Science High School and Bhairab Alpha Science College to promote the well-being of students. 

At 92, Thapa remains active due to his disciplined food habits. Thapa is concerned over the rising suicide rates among teenagers. He believes he has the knowledge to help reduce this tendency through his dance school and college. He aims to educate students about proper nutrition, classical dance, religious values, spirituality, and astrology.

Thapa is also known as a colour therapist; he wears clothes of different colours each day of the week: red on Sunday, white on Monday, maroon on Tuesday, green on Wednesday, yellow on Thursday, ash colour on Friday, and black on Saturday. His food routine aligns with these colours, with the lentils matching the colour of his clothing.

He emphasises that our civilisation is declining and stresses the importance of respect, love, compassion, and empathy. He said that his school and college will teach these values alongside religious teachings to the new generation. Thapa also aims to revive his Bhairab Nritya Dal to re-establish his dance troupe and educate others.

Thapa was awarded the Jagadamba Shree Puraskar in 2020 by the Madan Puraskar Guthi for his lifetime contribution to Nepali dance culture. In addition, he has received multiple honours and awards nationally and internationally. 

Likewise, an initiative has been made to celebrate the birthday of senior dancer Bhairab Bahadur Thapa as National Dance Day.

(The author is a journalist at The Rising Nepal.)