Dance and music festival of the mentally disabled
E. M. G. Edirisinghe
Sahan Eliya the second dance and music competition of the mentally
retarded children was held at the John de Silva Memorial Theatre. It was
a festival as well as a competition organized by the Ceylon Association
for the Mentally Retarded. These innocent children, many of whom were
reaching adulthood are mentally retarded from infancy and with little or
no hope of developing themselves into the intellectual level of normal
children of their age. This festival was an opportunity for these
children to develop their hidden talent and pronounce their social
existence irrespective of the 'disability' from which they are
suffering.
This annual event draws a wide interest among the homes and schools
maintained for the mentally retarded children. They keep on learning and
rehearsing for the festival for several months as their uptake is slow
and capacity to learn is at a minimum level.
However, finally they managed to come out with a satisfactory
performance to the joy of all present. The children together with their
teachers and parents show a very keen interest not really in the
competition aspect of the event, but in participation in the festival
which is the only forum for them to display their talent and dedication,
and show what they are capable of. While these mentally poor children
perform on stage which is clearly a diversion from their monotonous
life, it is also an investment for a better future both mentally and
physically. Nevertheless, parents of these children were elated that
their children were able to produce something which even some normal
children are not capable of achieving. They were hardly made to sing.
Dancing to timing played off stage was the most common basic
performance expected from them. When they shine on stage adorn with
colourful traditional costumes, the parents watching them from the
audience were delighted about what they could give and otherwise they
would have been living in the shade unnoticed in a rather secluded
background without ever getting an opportunity to emerge into even a
semblance of limelight.
With the exception of the North-East and the North-West, 250 children
from the rest of the country attached to various organizations and homes
participated in this program. This is an improvement over the last year
as there is greater and more enthusiastic participation this year.
This competition is expected to provide an opportunity to these
children to bring out whatever talent they have, developed or inborn.
Also, it widened the opportunities for meeting with many people within a
sympathetic and emotionally benevolent environment.
Groups of children from distant places such as Anuradhapura, Kotagala,
Galle, Tanamalwila participated in the competition. Most of the
presentations on the stage were inspired by our traditional dance forms
and music chores.
Every item presented was simple and smooth reflecting the nature of
mental constitution of these innocent children who came in for vigorous
audience appreciation. Ukusa Vannama appeared to have been the most
popular item among them while there were several songs and dance
performances based on popular Sinhala songs as well. Preethipura Home
from Kotagala presented an original dance portraying the tea-pluckers.
This is one instance the children drew an inspiration from the
environment in which they are living.
Traditional Kandyan dance was the item to enliven the Kandyan boys
and girls from Navodaya, Levella, Kandy. It was a fine presentation with
traditional rhythm and beat blending with an appreciative sound and
balance.
They were even able to evoke vigour and pace which is the essence of
the Kandyan dance. Raban, Harvest and Pot dances once again breathed
life into the traditional format with the children moving rather slowly
with less vigour and life as they are not in an emotional and
intellectual frame to give effect to the powerful inner rhythm of the
dance.
The best performance award at the competition was won by the Sukhitha
Home at Galapatha for its live stage performance of Ukusa Vannama.
This sequence displayed much vigour and rhythmic pace with a live
presentation. The second place was won by Moratuwa Balika for the
Coconut Shell dance presented by their children, while the third place
was won by Ape Lamai from Mirigama for what seem to be a rare original
composition enclosing the four omens experienced by children learning
Buddhism. The other groups were each awarded with a consolation prize
for participation at the festival. This dance-music festival, the
competition aspect of which was not within the sensitivity of the
majority of the mentally retarded children.
However, it was a success with the Ceylon Association for the
Mentally Retarded being able to take pride in what they organized to
bestow recognition, pride and above all an opportunity to convenience
these children what they are capable of. The parents had a glimpse of
achievement of their children who generally lead a life of seclusion. |
