Dancing Teens

Kalaeliya on March 6

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

DANCE: Seven teens of the Visha Dancing School will perform the Kalaeliya, their first public show on March 6. These girls dressed in colourful costumes joined Daily News Teen to talk about this important event.

Wathsala Fernando, 18, is the most senior dancer in the troupe. She has been involved in dancing from childhood.

"I started dancing with Rajini Selvanayagam when I was six. Then I joined Visha de Silva in 1999. My teacher developed my talents. Now I am confident in dancing. I take part in school events. We have inter-house dancing competitions. I have taken part in Nruthyahara and Swetha two important contests in school. We have been invited from other schools for various occasions too," Wathsala said.

She is in the eastern band of Museaus College and has participated in several international tours. "Through Visha Dancing School I participated in an opening dance at then Fifa World Cup 2002 in Korea and Japan. It was a great pleasure to participate in these ceremonies.

Around 35 students represented our country. We met a lot of dancers from other countries. It was interesting to know their culture. I consider that opportunity as a privilege," Wathsala said.

"I also participated in an Indian Dancing Festival in 2005. It is an annual festival. It was a good experience. Indian culture is much similar to the Sri Lankan culture," she said. Wathsala will sit for her A/Ls this year. She hopes to continue dancing as a hobby.

"My teacher trained us well. I won't stop dancing as I enjoy it. My parents supported me but nobody forced me. Dancing has become a part of my life," she added.

Manuri Ratnaweera, 18, is a student of Musaeus College. " First I learnt dancing in school as a subject. I participated in several school items. I was involved in Western dancing. But because of the A/Ls I stopped it. I will restart it after A/Ls. My teacher helped me a lot to develop my talents," she said.

"I went to India and Korea to participate in international events. I gathered a lot of experience. Our teacher guided us. We met various dancers from other countries. I had a lot of fun and I learnt a lot through these events," Manuri said.

She is taking up dancing as a subject for A/Ls. "I hope to become a dancing teacher and have my own dancing school in the future. I like to visit other countries and perform there. I am a bit nervous about Kalaeliya but we will have a good show. It is our first public show. We have to do several items and we practise a lot for this show," Manuri said.

"Dancing has taught me a lot of things. I am recognised in school because of my talents. It builds my character and I don't feel shy in public. I can handle any situation. I have taken part in several school events and tours abroad. They have enriched my life.

My parents support me a lot. My teacher was behind me all the time. With their assistance I have reached this position. I'm in Grade 13. I have been able to cope with my studies while continuing dancing. I will continue dancing as a hobby," said Savindri Perera, 17.

She added that her friends are happy to see her on television programmes. "I participated in Punchi Tharaka and my friends were happy to see me. I am the Eastern band leader and I'm excited about our show," Savindri said.

Shavindri Abeysinghe, 15, started dancing with Channa and Upuli. She had then joined Visha, her present dancing teacher. She is a talented teen and is involved in several activities in the school. "I am in the school eastern band and dance troupe.

I'm also a senior guide. I am the youngest in our dance troupe. I have travelled to Switzerland and Hungary from school. I went to India in 2003 from Visha Dancing School," she explained.

"I have learnt a lot through dancing. I've learnt various dances, drumming and culture. I get to know a lot of people. I want to go ahead in dancing. My main goal is to have my own school. Apart from dancing I do music. I take part in inter-house dancing, drama and singing competitions. My mother is the shadow behind me. She helps me a lot to manage my work," she added.

"Eastern Dancing can be fused with other dances," said Ranella Jayasuriya, 19. She practices eastern dancing and ballet at the same time. " We can keep both parallel. I started dancing at the age of seven.

My mother used to dance. My brother and I followed her footsteps. I hope to put up a dancing school with my brother. My ambition is to become a professional dancer. I have taken part in tours abroad. They have given me enormous experience," she explained.

Chamini Herath, 19, is planning to go to India to complete Kathak M.A. "I started at the age of four. I have taken part in several dancing competitions and concerts. Kalaeliya is like the graduation of dancing. We can show people that we have taken one step forward in dancing. Dancing taught us to work as a team. I consider dancing as a social work. I like going on tours and mingling with them," she said.

Chamini said her parents and teachers supported her to enhance her capabilities. "I like to be a choreographer. I am going to India to learn it. I'm not nervous. I will do my best at the Kalaeliya," she said.

Pubudu Aparakke, 18, is another talented teen of Musaeus College. "I like dancing very much. I have taken part in many concerts in school and tours abroad. We also danced for the opening ceremony of the South Asian Games. We were taken from the school. I will sit for A/Ls this year in commerce stream," she said.

The strength behind these teens is their teacher Visha de Silva. "These students are very talented. They have been under me for more than five years. They are enthusiastic. I give them the chance to teach also. Their headdress will be placed on March 1 at Bellanwilla Temple. They will perform there. Professor Kusuma Karunaratne will be the chief guest at this occasion," Visha said.

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Reaching for the stars

Ruwanthi Abeyakoon

EVENT: Star party observation competition, an annual event of Ananda College Colombo and Mahamaya Girls School, Kandy will be presented this year with additional workshops to enhance the knowledge of participants. Hashan Kuruppu, 16, Vice president, Prasanna Deshapriya, 17, President and Kshithijaya Nanayakkara, 16 chief organiser are looking forward to this magnificent event.

"This inter-school event was inaugurated by our college and Mahamaya for the first time in South Asia. Fifty schools will participate in this. Ten students can participate from each school. The programme will commence at 6 p.m. and will continue till the next day at the Peradeniya University premises," Prasanna said.

He added that Peradeniya was chosen because of light pollution in Colombo. " It is difficult to observe stars in Colombo because of light pollution. We will have a quiz and a workshop on that day," he said.

"In Sri Lanka, many are not keen on this subject. Camps like this are organised very rarely. We want to promote astrology and that is the reason for us to organize this camp to benefit those who study astronomy," Hashan said.

He said that he joined the Astronomy Club in Grade seven. "From childhood I used to observe stars. I will become a scientist or an astronaut in the future. These camps help me to approach this position. I have a telescope at home and I use it for observations," Hashan said.

"I joined the club in 2003. At first I didn't have much knowledge. The society has developed my knowledge and given me a lot of experience. It has developed my personality and I hope to contribute to the Astronomy field in some way in the future," Prasana said.

Kshithijaya said he has a huge responsibility as the chief organiser. "I joined the club in 2003. It is difficult sometimes to work and get things organised. But it is a good experience

We will have many events in the future," he said.

Anandians are planning to launch a monthly magazine on astronomy. "We hope to launch a magazine or a book. Around 80 students are in the Ananda Astronomical Association. Jayan Karunaratne, Secretary, Miyuru Dissanayake, Treasurer, Asela Senanayake, Assistant Secretary, Eranga Thilina, Assistant Treasurer, and the Joint editors Pravin Kagodaarachchi and Ruwanga Karunaratne also helped us a lot. The Mahamaya committee supported in every way they can," Prasanna said.

Ananda College Astronomy Club has several special events in their calendar. The "Arthur C Clarke Challenge Trophy is an important event. During the observation camp 2003 we distributed CDs for schoolboys for the first time. `Mars approaches'; observation camp 2004 was a rare chance.

With the school telescope they watched planet Mars when it was close to earth. This occurs once in 40,000 years," Hashan explained.

Kshithijaya said that Astronomy and Space study center helps them a lot by giving lectures and sharing their knowledge with the students.