In step with Suraj

Actor brings elements of nature together in maiden dance ensemble:

Ruwini Jayawardana

Multi-faceted model, actor and dancer Suraj Mapa will hold his maiden dance ensemble at Bishop’s college auditorium on May 14 and 15 at 7 p.m. Titled ‘Suraj Presents Elements’ the show will comprise a variety of diverse dance techniques and blends of dance forms.

Interestingly each of these dance acts represents the five great elements of nature: air (thought), fire (desire), water (emotions), earth (stability) and space (substance). Nine starlets, mainly Nilanthi Dias, Nehara Peries, Himali Sayurangi, Nadeesha Hemamali, Pabodha Sandeepani, Nirosha Perera, Sachini Ayendra, Suranga Fernando and Udari Warnakulasooriya will partner Suraj in the dances, dressed in a variety of colourful costumes. Seasoned actors like Malani Fonseka, Sriyani Amarasena, Sabeetha Perera and Dillhani Ekanayake will also take part.

“I have felt the need to showcase my talents as a dancer for some time. Now the time had come to hold such an event. The artistes who will be featured are the crème de la crème in the field. They are also some of my closest friends. I have found it very easy to work with them,” Suraj stated adding that the event will open doors to a whole new experience for the audience.

“Art and technology will come together when dancing and visuals merge in the items. For the first time in Sri Lanka graphics will be in a dancing show. Screens and normally used to show what is happening on stage but they will be used to add glamour at ‘Suraj Presents Element’,” he added.

Dance items ranging from the traditional Sri Lankan dances to the modern hip hop, Latin, Bollywood, Bhangra, Indian and many more genres will be part of the line-up. A special Michael Jackson dance act will be one of the highlights of ‘Suraj Presents Elements’. There will also be some noteworthy performances for some popular Sinhala film songs.

Around 30 other dancers selecting from an audition will also perform with Suraj and group at the event. All the dances are choreographed by Suraj and the funds of the concert will be donated for the underprivileged university student’s education and a hole in the heart patient’s surgery. ‘Suraj Presents Elements’ will be sponsored by Tiara Rollo with CBL Foods International (Pvt) Ltd and is co-sponsored by Toyota Lanka (Pvt) Ltd and Torana music.

Suraj who embarked on his path to fame in 2002 with Mage Sanda Obai is now an established teledrama and cinema actor. He had portrayed characters in over 20 teledramas and played some memorable roles in films.

The old boy of Trinity College, Kandy, had own a handful of accolades for his contribution to the arts scene. Having bagged the most popular actor award in both the Sumathi and Raigam awards in 2003, Suraj went on to win the title of the most popular Sri Lankan actor in the UAE in 2005.

Suraj’s relationship with the dance scene dates back nearly a decade when he was trained as a young dancer under Neomi Rajaratnam. He had even won international awards such as the international championships in Latin American dance including the championship in ‘Footwork Dance Sport 2002’. Taking his talent to a higher level Suraj had given the best of his skills for projects like Sandun Rajakaruna’s Uththara and the Ridee Reyak series.

Suraj and group also hope to take the series to other areas of the island. He revealed that a concert in Kandy is on the cards. They hope to tour countries like the UK, UAE and Australia in future.