Compiled by Ruwini Jayawardana

Rejuvenation

Traditional dance forms get modern touch with Thala 2008:

Ruwini Jayawardana

Through the dimness of lights they emerged on to the stage, their feet hardly touching the ground as they swayed to the music. Their movements drew in the crowd with magnetic force. All eyes were glued to the dancers as they wove their spell around the audience.

Channa-Upuli dance troupes have mesmerised many a crowd throughout the years both on local soil and the international sphere. A not-to-be-missed opportunity will be coming your way as the renowned dancing duo will be staging Thala 2008, an exhibition of contemporary and modern dance by the Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation at the BMICH on June 11 and 12.

Held once in five years by the Performing Arts Foundation, the show will comprise a vibrant display of the contemporary, traditional and modern fusions of dance.

Channa Wijewardene and Upuli Panibharatha have carved a niche in the world of dance through their dancing skills and exceptional choreography. Their authenticity and professionalism had drawn in crowds.

Having excelled in dance under eminent figures in the dance scene like Chitrasena, Vajira and Panibharatha, the couple had been in the forefront in keeping the traditional roots of the country's traditional dance forms alive and had preserved its ancient beauty to bring it before the present generation and many generations to come.

Speaking to the media, veteran actor, Ravindra Randeniya who also spearheads the event's organising committee said that though Chitrasena and Panibharatha brought Sri Lankan dance to the stage, it was Channa who took dance to the media.

"Channa was one among a few who helped change the society's outlook towards dancing as a profession and he had brought a modern touch to traditional dancing without distorting its past techniques. Due to his immense success many try to imitate him but fall short of his talent.

His work is formed out of many years of practice and experience," he expressed. Jananath and Vindya Warakagoda, children of eminent actors Vijayaratne and Chitra Warakagoda, will also contribute to Thala 2008 along with Ruwan Weerasekara and Saranga Lakmal de Mel. Traditional dances such as Kuveni, Sath Paththini and Sigiriya will be displayed with a modern twist.

Fonterra Brands' Anlene will sponsor the event and highlights will be telecast on Rupavahini.

Mayura Wannama with a modern twist	A unique performance to Maestro W.D. Amaradeva’s song Nim Him Sewwa

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'Sing along with the Gypsies'

Enjoy an evening of music and entertainment when you join in with the ever popular Gypsies lead by Sunil along with Ronnie Leitch and sing along to some fabulous music and familiar songs.

The fun filled event suited for the entire family will be held at the newly refurbished Liberty Ballroom of the Holiday Inn Hotel, on June 15 at 7 p.m.

Hosted by Clifford Richards, the show promises to be packed with entertainment in the inimitable Gypsies style. The crowning highlight of the event will be a guest spot by legendary songstress Mignonne Fernando who began her spectacular career in Colombo at the then Coconut Grove of the Galle Face Hotel.

She went on to perform at the Regent in Hong Kong for several years and her voice still radiates a special charm and originality. On stage she continues to be the quintessential star of spell binding presence.

Organised by the Muslim Ladies Study Circle, proceeds from this show will go towards the organisers' registered charities of maintaining the vocational training centre for women embarking on self generating enterprises located on Colombo 10 and ward number 20 of the Cancer Hospital in Maharagama.

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'The Day Will Come...' soon

Sashane and Michelle

Rajiv and Natalie

Natalie and Geethike

Colombo audiences are in for a treat to see some thought-provoking theatre production when CentreStage Productions presents their latest creation, 'The Day Will Come...' The play, which boasts a stellar cast and a beguiling script, marks a return to serious theatre for the troupe, and will be performed at the Punchi Theatre, Borella from June 12 to 15 at 7.30 p.m.

'The Day Will Come...', written and directed by Jehan Aloysius, was short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize for literature in 2000 in a collection of plays titled 'The Screaming Mind'.

The production is set in the future 'somewhere, sometime', where a young demented dictator passes a radical law to gas everyone over the age of 55 in order to solve the issue of overpopulation.

This supreme patriarch, believing that he is 'making way for the new', declares that it is a 'wastage of resources keeping Elders alive when they are no longer productive'. The result is a war on the Elders which leads to a group of 'geriatric rebels' taking refuge in an abandoned factory.

Trapped in their underground hideaway they hope to live out the rest of their lives, though with the constant fear of the young. As other groups of Elders are captured and gassed, they realise it is a matter of time before they themselves suffer a similar fate. In desperation they seek new ways to survive and even fight back.

The cast is made up of prominent English theatre personalities such as Mohamed Adamaly, Prasad Pereira, Rajiv Ponweera, Shanaka Amarasinghe, Natalie Blacker and Wanda Godlieb, supported by Michelle Herft, Sashane Perera and Geethike de Silva.

"It's been an exciting process working with such an experienced cast. I can honestly say the actors fit their roles perfectly," said Jehan.

"I guess I'm very glad I've waited 14 years to produce this play which I wrote when I was just 16! In fact, this is the first of my four plays short-listed for the Gratiaen Prize 2000 that I have chosen to finally produce.

I've been doing a few light plays recently, so I'm enjoying working on this piece of serious theatre that makes people think."

'The Day Will Come...' is indeed a surreal and gripping look at certain very real issues. As Jehan states, "In a sense the play can be termed as an allegory that deals with ageism, the abuse of the elders, as well as the effects of progress and overpopulation in societies around the world."

The theatre troupe's recent successes include the sell-out productions of 'Caliban's Rebellion' and 'Pyramus & Thisby'.

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Sirasa TV cruises to10 years

Anniversary celebrations today:

Ruwini Jayawardana

It has not always been a smooth ride but it has been a journey that spelled success. With its inception on June 10, 1998, Sirasa TV and Susara Dinal, its channel head had never looked back. From entertainment to knowledge, fashion trends to lifestyle and music to game shows, the channel had made its mark with its audience.

Now the highly popular television channel is on the verge of embarking on its tenth successful year and what better way to catch up with its past history and present plans then with a man who had been there, seen it and done it. The Daily News caught up with Dinal to inquire about the channel's past, present and future.

"Our mission is to provide entertainment and knowledge and develop the art of television. We are known as "The Peoples' Channel" and we construct our programmes to revolve around this theme," he explained adding that throughout the years the channel had been working towards adding new concepts to the television industry.

"We started off as Samanyen Asamanya Deyake which means though television was a common equipment in the household Sirasa churned in extraordinary programmes. Most of the programmes shown on the other TV channels were introduced by us.

We initiated programmes like Rasa Risi Gee, Diganthaya and 'Hindi Top 10' where the comperes spoke freely with the audience. Games shows like Ahanna Aasai Gayanna, Tharu Mansala and Nethra showcase public talent and have earned much appeal among the audience."

With the introduction of the 'reality TV' concept to Sri Lanka Sirasa was able to catapult to the highest ratings of popularity. Their latest reality TV venture "Sirasa Dancing Stars" sheds light on a section that had not been effectively highlighted in the past.

"The channel always focuses on day to day necessities of the people when we plan to hold competitions. Therefore we include essential equipment as prizes.

We even pay the monthly light bill for viewers as the reward in one of competitions," Dinal said while turning down accusations that such competitions are held as a method of tempting people to watch programmes.

"It is my personal belief that people cannot be forced to watch a programme by merely offering them prizes as a reward. It is the chemistry which we share with our viewers that binds them to us," he said.

Sirasa's theme for this year will be TV Aluth Karana Sirasa TV.

They are hoping to launch two new reality TV programmes along with the third season of "Sirasa Super Star" and the second seasons of "Sirasa Dancing Stars" and "Sirasa Kumariya".

The popular cartoon "White Fang" will also be shown dubbed in Sinhala. Nilendra Deshapriya is in the process of making a movie based on "Sirasa Super Star - Season Two" and a musical concert performed by the 12 finalists of Season Two will also be held in Kegalle on June 13. Entrance will be free of charge.

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Lanka set for Digital TV

Sachitra Mahendra

Sri Lanka's first Mass Communication technology conference 'Broadcast Sri Lanka 2008 will be held at the BMICH from June 12 to14 with the sponsorship of Dialog TV. The conference is focused on the evolution from analogue into digital era.

Technical committee chairman, Broadcast Sri Lanka, Dr D B Nihalsinghe pointed out the importance of opening doors into the digital era. He stressed the role of the Government in leading the transformation with the assistance of industry communities. According to Dr. Nihalsinghe the conference is important for digital engineers to discuss the technical issues related to Digital television (DTV).

"We intend to put forward our suggestions at the end of the conference. And we hope they will be in the best interest of the country." Dr. Nihalsinghe added. Studio and Technology of Asian Broadcasting Head Rukmin Wijemanna focused on the importance of guidance and standards. "The bottom line is you don't have to change your old TV set.

You can switch it on to digital mode." Wijemanna said. However there will be modern TV sets for digital viewing. Answering a question from the gathering, Wijemanna said that analogue viewing is possible even in the modern TV set with a particular device hooked up to it.