Byron Aihara is a film maker, photographer, and independent researcher. His recent work has been centered on traditional performance arts of Northeast India. He recently published a book on dance and music in Manipur, a Northeast state of India. The books title is Dance Music and Ritual in Manipur. Byron has spent more than four years living and traveling extensively throughout India, Nepal, and Indonesia. He is a graduate of the UCLA school of film and television with a degree in production. Byron has also directed a feature film documentary "Marriage in Chanderi" and a number of short films.
Byron's current research work is independent, ongoing, and large in scope. His projects mission statement is the filming, recording, and web presentation of the many traditional dance, musics, and rituals of Northeast India with a focus on those which are endangered or are in need of immediate protection. With the first phase of research completed Byron has spent 16 months in the field, amassing an archive of nearly 100 hours of traditional music, video and sound field recordings. The first major product of the project is the book, Dance Music and Ritual in Manipur. The second phase is the Seven Sisters Music projects. http://sevensistersmusic.com/