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| Wednesday, 15 December 2004 |
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Legendary Kandyan dancer leaves cultural legacy by E. Weerapperuma
Internationally acclaimed Kandyan dancer Sri Jayana Rajapakse who turns 84 on December 16 will set up a centre for aesthetic studies at Salamulla, Wellampitiya to mark the event. Waidyalankakara Rathnadipathigedera Jayana Rajapakse who hails from Amunugama Udagampaha Korale,Pathadumbara, in the Kandy district was born on December 16, 1921. He was the youngest in a family of nine children. He belongs to the 17th generation of traditional Kandyan dancers, astrologists and royal physicians. Being a promoter of Kandyan tradition of dancing, Jayana has done much for the progress of Sri Lanka dance. His pioneering effort has made it possible for women to become dancers, as they were debarred from doing so, in the 1940s. He was also responsible for making dance a social event rather than a temple activity. He said dance was re-introduced to temple as a sacred offering and, as a part of the "Sri Dalada Perahera" during the reign of Kandyan Kings. Ukkuwa Gurunnanse, the son of Suramba of Niththawela tribe, pioneered in taking the dance back to the temple in its pristine form. Rajapakse has done a lot to popularise Kandyan dance in Sri Lanka and the world. His participation along with his troupe in dance festivals and public performances in many countries, has brought much fame to himself, his art and to Sri Lanka. He claims to have trained more than 23,000 boys and girls to become professional dancers. His contribution to include traditional forms of dance into the university curriculum is noteworthy. A traditional temple dancer,physician and astrologer Gunamala Rajapkse of Harispattuwa, the Suwandiram Pannikkiya, the man who was in charge of the Dalada Maligawa Drumming and Dancing group was his father and Sodina Galagedara Rajapkse was his mother. Ms.Jayawathie Rajapkse, Lecturer at the Kelaniya University is the daughter of Suramba, one of Jayana's elder brothers. Ves Benduma Jayana became a dancer at the tender age of eight, way back in 1928. His father was his first tutor. At the age of 18, the "Ves Benduma" ceremony was held at Degaldoruwa Rajamaha Viharaya in Kandy. The Ves, the dancing costume, was sponsored by Sri Lanka's two famous artistes Lionel Wendt and George Keyt. As a student Jayana was impressed by the local dance and he never lost an opportunity to be present at dance recitals. He was present to witness a dance performance by Sri Gopinath at the Trinity College, Kandy on his visit to Ceylon. Although Ayurvedic system of medicine prevalent at the time was the line of studies he pursued, his heart was somewhere else. Having seen the dance performance of Sri Gopinath, young Jayana was determined to bring the traditional dance forms to forefront and usher in a new era. Coming of age He recalled with pride that Indian artistes Sachin Shankar, Narenoa Sharma and Sukendra Dutt learnt Kandyan dancing while staying in his parental house at Amunugama. With all these in mind Jayana took to dancing seriously and became one of the pioneers and exponents of traditional dancing in the 20th century. At that time dance was limited to the performance of Kohombakankariya and the "Ves Enduma" was part of the " Deva Pidum Maduwa" and was never taken out. "At the time I became a dancer, dance was an integral part of religion. I modified it without destroying the fundamentals of dancing to suit the stage," he said. He soon found that professional dancers were going in different directions and decided to bring them into one organisation. German Philosopher Dietrik Bonhoefer said the nation was "coming of age" and it was an opportune time to bring them together. Talks he had with Kandyan artistes in Kandy Vidyartha Vidyalaya at Mahaiyawa in 1939 were a turning point in dancing history of this country. The dance, song and music which were preserved as family tradition up to that time and which had the patronage of the Sinhalese Kings took a different turn and became their responsibility. The result of that gathering was the formation of the " Madyama Lanka Nurthi Mandalaya" (Central Lanka Dancing Board) in 1939 and it helped to bring all the talented artistes under one banner. The Organisation gradually expanded to form the "Gandharwa Sabha" in 1944.
In 1945, Jayana along with the members Ven.Sri Siddhartha, J. E. Delwala Rate Mahaththaya, J. E. Sedaraman and J. E. Malagammana prepared a blue print on traditional dancing. That sketch written in the form of a memorandum was later handed over to the then Education officer S. L. B. Kapukotuwa and it was Jayana who moved a proposal that dancing be introduced and included in the school curriculum. The proposal which was a part of the memorandum was accepted and the Kandyan dancing was introduced in schools. Then he underwent training at Shanthi Nikethan, Lucknow and Bath Khande in India. He said he was grateful to Lionel Wendt for allocating Rs. 10,000 to sponsor his education in India in 1945. Artist Harold Peries also had helped him. Jayana travelled to India in the company of George Keyt and Rev. Lakdasa de Mel (later Bishop of Kurunegala). Indian National Theatre While in India, he formed the Indian National Theatre along with eminent Indian artistes such as Shachin Shankar, Ravi Shankar, Narendra Sharma, Udaya Shankar, Rajendra Shankar and, Sukendra Dutt.The late first Indian Prime Minister Javahar Lal Nehru was its patron. In 1947, Jayana staged " The Discovery of India" a ballet for which the music was directed by Alahabdeen Khan. Later Nehru conferred the " Shri" title on Jayana. In 1952 and 1960, Sri Jayana and his troupe toured America and several other countries in Europe. He also visited Greece, Italy, France and also South America. While in France, he competed with 3700 participants from 69 countries at a dancing contest and was adjudged the most popular troupe and was awarded the gold medal. Sri Jayana and his troupe have performed dancing and dance sequences in films such as Dingiri Menika, Vanaraja, Maha Hene Reeri Yaka and the English Film "Elephant Walk". Sri Jayana was in charge of dancing in the Sri Lanka Army and the 'Govi Hamudawa' created by the 1965 Dudley Senanayake Government. In 1992, President Ransinghe Premadasa in recognition of his outstanding artistic calibre, honoured him with the title "Kalasuri". "I have been a dancer for six decades and I did my best to promote Sri Lanka in every country I visited, said Jayana who has formed the Sri Jayana Internal Cultural Foundation and the Sri Jayana Internal Cultural Institute. Making his dream come true a building is being constructed as a permanent Centre of Dancing. It will be a Centre for both local and foreign students keen to learn all form of dancing. the building is due to be ceremoniously opened on December 21, at Salamulla in Kolonnawa. Sri Jayana is a father of three girls now grown up women and mothers and one son (now a father of his own right). Though dedicated to their father's chosen field of dancing Rathna is the only one committed fully to take the mantle of her father. The others extend support to realise her goal and thereby the vision of their father. **** Back **** |
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