Child of a dream
Ishara Jayawardane
Ranjana Chathuranga Sooriyabandara is set to accomplish a childhood
dream. As a child he took part in a contingent of dancers under the
tutelage of Basil Mihiripanna to perform in the play Ramayanaya in front
of an Indian crowd who gave them a warm response. Now he is a man with
his own dance academy - The Bharatha Natyam Ranjana Kala Nikethanaya.
Other branches are in Kurunegala, Mawanella and Colombo.
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Ranjana’s
students. Pictures by Lalith C Gamage |
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Ranjana |
And next year he hopes to launch his production of Ramayanaya right
here in Sri Lanka. This production will be a fusion of Bharatha Natyam
and Ballet.
Ranjana has also other plans to hatch. And they will become a reality
soon. He is leading his own team into India to take part in a Dance
Festival. It will be Bharatha Natyam style. Ranjana will be representing
Sri Lanka along with six other students. The festival will be held on
December 28. The festival will be held in Mylarpoor Vidya Bhavathi
Bhawan Auditorium with representation from other countries as well.
Ranjana who has around 75-100 students under his guidance, is a
Visharadha who entered the field of dance quite haphazardly. He first
started to learn singing under Sanath Nandasiri at the Sharadha
Nikkethanaya. Nearby there were some dancing clasess held by Basil
Mihiripanna.
Mihiripanna was conducting rehearsals for the Ramayanaya play set to
take place in India having received an invitation from the Indian High
Commission.
"I used to watch them through the window. Sanath sensed my eagerness
for Dance and advised me to take up dancing classes with Basil
Mihiripanna. Sanath spoke to Basil about me and I was chosen for a small
part in Ramayanaya" said Ranjana.
Ranjana spoke of his childhood experience doing Ramayanaya saying
that a zest for Ramayanaya was in his blood with the success of that
play. He has been in the field of dance for 10 years in India. His
institute was created three years ago.
"I want to do something for this country through Bharatha Natyam
because this art of Bharatha Natyam can contribute to human development.
Now I am doing my own production of Ramayanaya and there are openings
for aspiring young actors and actresses," said Ranjana.
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