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by Ilika Karunaratne

As I saw Upeka, tripping lightly down the stairs to greet me, almost as if she was walking on air, I was struck by her carriage and deportment. Tall and slender, she held herself erect, and was very much a dancer in her fluid movements.

Sitting down to chat, I looked around at the sitting room in her home, full of precious things, welded into a composition of airy elegance.

Upeka, is one of three children, of the famed dancing duo, Vajira and Chitrasena, who have spared no pain to improve the traditional culture of our country through dance. "Our whole lives revolved round dancing, and there was never any question in my mind. I knew that this was what I wanted to do, as did my sister, Anjelica.

I was never pushed into it although my mother made certain that we attend dancing classes with the other pupils to learn the correct techniques. Even while at school, I danced in all their productions locally although I couldn't travel abroad with the troupe". She was 15, when she played the lead role in children's ballet called "Rankikili" while dancing in 'Karadiya' and "Nala Damayanthi" in which her mother played the lead.

"My father Chitrasena, has always been the driving force behind all our productions even now. Although he doesn't dance, the dancing he did, which was excellent exercise, has seen that he can still move around easily and doesn't have to use a wheelchair. My father did lighting scripts even in the 60s audiences abroad were stunned that he did all this, long before the emergence of the electronic age. Each little detail of every production was planned and orchestrated by him".

In 1975, Upeka took over 25 lead roles in the Chitrasena dance troupe. "For me, dancing was the most natural thing that I could do. I had perceived from childhood, the sacrifices made by my parents for the promotion of our culture and traditions. Does Upeka miss not having children? No, quite honestly, no. My nieces and nephews are part of me, thus an integral part of my existence; all my nieces are dancers too".

Upeka met her husband who is Director of S.O.S. villages, when he was invited by her father to view a performance of "Kiri Kiri Kolama" in which she danced. "This is still his favourite performance, we met and married shortly after; it was a whirlwind romance. Although not in dancing, he is an artist too in his way and was a landscaping artist, he understands me and my dancing and we are perfectly in sync. I wouldn't have been able to devote my life to dancing without his understanding support".

Which aspect of our traditional dance, does Upeka think is appreciated most outside the country? Undoubtedly the rhythm of the drums, our dance techniques and our costumes. I enjoy doing workshops and demonstrations particularly for children and try to organize these when we perform abroad . They are usually spellbound by our dance forms and by the drums. Although the stage was set for me, as it were; as the daughter of my parents, it was a struggle as I felt that I was always being compared with them. So I had to develop a unique style of my own, taking what I liked best from both of them.

Although Vajira, Upeka's mother doesn't dance now, she conducts dancing and exercise classes, which exercise the entire body and builds up stamina. Upeka helps her with the classes. "I have little time to relax, but when I do, I listen to classical music, both western and Indian. This habit too, was inculcated in me by my father. The soft voices and beautiful lyrics soothe me and have a calming effect when I feel particularly stressed".

"We teach all kinds of traditional dance forms from all over Sri Lanka. The modern trend is for fusion, but I prefer the depth of traditional dance form. Every thing is "instant" now, but dancing requires years of rigid training. We have had rapt and enthusiastic audiences all over the world; particularly in India, where they really appreciate classical dancing and recognize the intricate differences in technique, between our traditions. My father is treated with great respect and looked upto in India".

Upeka's face lights up with love and warmth and she is nostalgic as she speaks of her parents. "I am sad that after all their hard work and sacrifices to promote our culture they are still financially unable to build their own hall for dancing. My mother is so afraid that some forms of dance and drumming will die that she pays young boys from villages to learn these techniques".

"If I had a chance to choose again, my choice would still be dancing. It has given me great happiness; the climb has not been smooth but ups and downs seem worthwhile with the applause one gets at the end of each performance".

So, the canvas of a lifetime's connections with dance, are acquiring the patina of another generation, with the granddaughters of Vajira and Chitrasena, also following the same trail.

Upeka's world seems bright, replete with promise generous in its joy and fulfilment profligate in its rewards.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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