Dancing duo linking with Asia Pacific region
Ruwini Jayawardana chats with Rangika and Rangana
The truest expression of a people is
in its dance and in its music. Bodies never lie. - Agnes de Mille
Dance items in store for the show
* Dalu Mura - The Bulath
Padaya, a section from the Hath Padaya belongs to the upcountry Kohomba
Kankari Shanthi Karmaya
* Thaname - A crescendo of
musical sounds brought together to perform an upcountry traditional
dance. Rangika and Rangana will perform this item
* Yathura - A harvest
dance showing rice cultivation
*Senpathiyo - Boys dance
combining ancient fighting and upcountry styles
* Riddi bisav - A section
from a low country ritual
* Pol katu - A dance
showing one of the country’s chief exports, the coconut, which the
dancers use as a prop. It is also used to decorate the costumes.
* Semera - A dance showing
the fanning of our kings by female courtiers
* Eluwan Kaema - A dance
which is performed by children during Sinhala New Year
* Thalaya - Instruments
brought together for a drum orchestra
* Raksha - The Raksha is a
traditional low country dance form which uses face masks
* Pathuru - A dance with
clappers which is used as the main attraction for the village folk dance
* Sankalana - An
experimental dance combining regional dance styles of low country, up
country, Bharatha Natyam and western dance
Young choreographer Rangika Jeewantha Vidanage who earned the titles
for best Elders’ Short Ballet and Elders’ Extended Ballet at the 11th
State Oriental Ballet Festival last year will present an evening of
dance at the Lionel Wendt on May 6 at 7 p.m.
With his twin bother, Rangana, the choreographer had brought together
the show focusing not only on the traditional dance but also
highlighting the country’s folk dance. Students of the duo’s dance
academy, Rivega Dance Studio, will perform the items along with the two
reputed dancers.
Rangika is a graduate of the University of Visual and Performing
Arts. Rangana had completed his Bachelor of Business Studies (BBS) at
Charles Stuart University, Melbourne.
Dancing had been a passion for both. They were trained by Piyasara
Shilpadipathi, Y. Gunasena and Channa Wijewardena.
Later they became the first twin brothers in the country to establish
an institute for professional dancing. They also created history as the
first set of twins to attain the level of Ves (meaning the highest
standards of Kandyan dancing).
Excelling in the field of dance Rangika had taken the country’s rich
dance tradition to the global arena. He had taken part in a number of
international competitions like the Ninth Asia Pacific Dance Competition
in Singapore in 2007 where he came second for a traditional dance item
in the National Dance.
He and his team of dancers collected 14 awards at the Annual
competition for ‘Dance Drama’ organised by the Cultural Affairs
Ministry.
Expecting the event Rangika states: “This is our first performance
after four years at the University of Visual and Performing Arts. As a
dancer I strongly believe that we need to explore new streams of dance
techniques. This would be done with skill as I do not believe in
changing the identity of our traditional dance forms. In this regard I
appreciate Chitrasena and Ravi Bandhu for their contribution to local
dance.”
He says that folk dance had been neglected in the scene today. It
needs to be rejuvenated and brought to light.
Five folk dance items will comprise the show.
“Dance can bring people together while promoting friendship and
understanding. Though many countries in the Asian zone have been
successful in finding means to combine dance styles to enrich their
traditional dance forms Sri Lanka has fallen behind on this prospect due
to lack of research and resources,” Rangana added.
The Nelung Arts Centre (NAC), spearheaded by Rangika’s ballet teacher
Niloufer Pieris, will work with Rivega Dance Studio in putting together
the dance performance. The NAC is multi-cultural with a holistic
approach to arts forms like music, dance, drama (mime), painting and
design. Embodying the vision of forming bridges of understanding between
diverse dance forms and classical ballet, the centre strives to link the
isle with the Asia Pacific region.
The old boy of Darmodaya College, Mt. Lavinia, and Prince of Wales,
Moratuwa, The NAC promotes gifted local artistes by providing them with
a platform for creativity. Their motto is to locate inborn talent and
provide individuals with the opportunity to flourish in the scene.
For more details contact 0773077756. |
