Jazzin’: Interesting mix of choreography

On boards at the Lionel Wendt last week when the students of Danceworld, School of Modern and Jazz Ballet danced Jazzin’, I found myself rather intrigued as to how they threw themselves with vigour into whatever task assigned to them by their choreographer, Sureka Buell who also produced and directed it.

I found the diverse dances delightful at the start, a little uninspiring in the middle and exhilarating in the final pace. The articulating music never relaxed even for a moment to let the dancers breath awhile.

The noise and the screams from the younger audience, distracted what would have been absorbing, intimate and fluid choreography. The dancers of course being very young, were not distracted but danced their hearts out and enjoyed what they were doing.

They were exuberant and joyous as they belted out to the tempo and rhythm, especially in their dedication to Michael Jackson whose hit songs were jazzed up for the evening. The medley of songs that youngsters tributed were;

I want you back
Billie Jean
Will you be there
Beat it
Thriller
They don’t care about us
Bad
Dangerous

In choreographing these songs, Sureka allowed the freedom of movement for the dancers to revel in and didn’t they go to town? I bet, they did. All girls coordinated but often, missing a beat or two in their footwork which is natural. It was difficult to pick out the best as everyone of them outshone the other both in physique and movement.

All of them were blessed with personality and musicality. Some how, my eyes were following the Elapata Gunaratna sisters, Nataliya and Aitana who were loaded with talent that still remain to be surfaced. In ‘When You Believe’, Deshani de Alwis, Nihara Perera and Tehani Pendigrast were outstanding. They danced sensibly and interacted with each other with depth and grace.

All Michael Jackson’s songs were visualized in teenage euphoria and come to think of it, the dancers hardly needed any choreography. In the opening song in MJ series all the little Michael Jacksons stormed the stage.

The whole scenario impacted well. In most of the songs, the beats were tuned into heartbeats and rhythm into jerks. The controls on the recording were bad and spoilt the atmosphere with its loud garish. But Sureka had done well with every touch to cause a huge gamut in style and dexterity, flies and swirls.

It is not easy to cope with a bubbly high-spirited team of teens and bring out the best in them but Sureka did well to tap their talent. Her expansive works filled the spaces with promenades hanging over from the waist as well as balances to be held and her young performers were adapt at handling what she choreographed.

This alone is of great credit to Sureka. The dancers also maintained a bubbly demeanor, dancing the choreography as though simply completing what was assigned to them. Few were involved in quick changes of directions and unexpected shifts of weight. Singling out one dance from the program, The audience reacted to the music and were elated, away from MJ sounds and held their breath for awhile.

The evening’s program ended very appropriately with the lively sizzle where all six girls sizzled their guts out.

Sureka can be happy and proud that her spirited young dancers delighted all those who came to see Jazzin and were rewarded with their stage presence and exhuberance.

Stage lighting and design by Akri Ameer and Priyanka Holsinger is commendable. Much appreciation to Jith Pieirs, one of Sri Lanka’s popular impressarios, for his contribution as the co-producer.

However, the entire evening’s success belonged to Mitabi Gunawadena for her wondrous act, spectacular costume. Each pick meticulously not only brought out the movements of the dancers but enhanced their personalities as well. If there had been errors and flaws in Jazzing, the magnitude of the vibrant colours, perfect-fits and style, covered them up.

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