Khamba thoibi dance is one of the elegantly performed dances of Manipur. It depicts the tale of the love of a poor but a noble youth (Khamba) for a princess (Thoibi), a story of which there are versions in the folk-lore of every land.

Performance—the dance complete by itself with a whole set of lyrical movements and immense rhythmic variations. The dance begins with the slow movements of the hands and slow beating of the feet on the ground in accordance with the broad division of the rhythm. Gradually the tempo rise finishing the performance with a bow (namaskar) to the gods and spectators, touching the heas on the palms of the hands resting them on the ground. The more expert dancers assume the lead, and they dance and execute the theme of the story.