Moves coming to life with

Demi HEWAMANNA

After speaking about the topic I love most in my life - how to help animals (dogs specially) - with vibrant, colourful, imaginative Muddrika Swarnathilake Fernando, I knew there was more to meet than what meets the eye at first glance from her. It's not everyday that you get to sit down with someone you just met a few days ago to talk about how you can help the voiceless four legged friends of ours.

Listening to her talk about her 5 best friends at home and how she rescued some helpless beings from meeting death - you know that she is one very down to earth person with many talents.

She said she began to dance when she was just four years old and has been dancing since then and sharing her passion to those who are talented with it. "I was very less into sports and I was very much into dancing and in school I did Kandyan dancing," Muddrika said. Later on I went to learn Bharatha Natyam, and I learnt my basic classical ballet from Niluffer Pieris who was part of the Royal Ballet Swan Lake.

"When I was around 12 and 13 I wanted to do something with films and songs. And those days had no idea what choreography meant. After O/Ls I did mathematics and realized that I was not in it. Later on I applied to the Asian Academy of Film and Television (Delhi, India) and spent time learning everything and started to learn the methods of choreography and how it's actually put into use", she went on saying.

To me choreography is an arrangement of action, a scene, a dance sequence or how entrance is made to a certain manner.

My very first major event was the Hikka Fest 2008 together with the tourist board when I was part of Phoenix.

The first time I did a performance on stage was in 2007. I did the choreography for films such as Heart FM, Yahaluwa, advertisements and many commercials as well.

I got a scholarship from the New York Academy of Performing Arts and came back in 2010 and began my studio - Muddrika Dance Studio.

Muddrika's way of getting her team to do a dance act is so unique from others that you want to keep on seen more of it. Growing up, I only have seen one international dance step and that is the Latin dance acts in Sri Lanka. Other than our very own traditional and cultural dances there was nothing else to see. But the firs time I saw Muddrika's dance troupe I was truly surprised. My first thought was - where have these guys been hiding???

As there was only one international step that people saw, getting hooked to another step and move is really odd for the audience - a reaction I have seen at many events I've participated to.

Working with the team is a combination of everything as it's never a one man thing. Everything we do is like a family.

We as a dance troupe are never jealous of what others do. People have typed us to a western area and when the opportunity comes we do whatever it is and do it. We are a multi dance set. I got 12 solid dancers and 8 more. The verty first year it started off with just six girls. Some people learn it, some people want to do it but just can't and some are born with it eager to share their knowledge to people who want to learn it and are not able to continue it. I didn't think we come this far but are close to average.

At one of the first dance shows I saw of Muddrika - I saw how many talented young girls and boys she has met.

The way they move to every beat keeping with the time and finally keeping the audience in awe. It is to this that Muddrika really worried about her dancers.

"Dancing is like any other sport which involves the movement and use of your whole body. My aim is that one day; there will be a way to make insurance scheme for dancers. They risk their life everyday - specially the ones who do acts that go way beyond normal dance steps. There was a student of mine who took part in a dance and had his arm disjointed. If such an insurance scheme is brought out - it will open doors to dancers to dance freely without fear," adds Muddrika.

There are people are absolutely dedicated to what they are doing and they do stunts that have many side effects as well. There was a dancer who broke his leg. As a dancer - the attitude people give them is cheap, unprofessional and sometimes the families and people don't think in a positive manner.

There are dancers who can adjust to any style and you can actually call them dancers but the one whoa re only perfect in one style can be classified to that particular dance act only.

I appreciate dancers who are multi talented. There are dancers who have had the courage to be where they are surpassing all obstacles.

To know a particular dance style one should study about it from grass root level. You can't just watch a dance act and think you can do that. People watch one culture doing another culture and think that is the way it's done. If you don't hear the beat - you got no rhythm - if you don't have the rhythm you got no move and if you can't move well simply you can't dance.

Muddrika Dance Studio has done many acts for company launches and she said that people have come up with some weird ideas but all of them they managed to come through with the help of their costume designer Sharmila. She has been with them from day one knowing their style and making their outfits look simply super-fabulous.

My parents thought I was crazy when I did dancing before, but now they see what I see. My mum takes care of my wardrobe and my dad supports us all. He's the one who makes sure that everyone is dropped home safe and sound (as I am responsible for each and every dancer in my team to their families).

My love is to be behind the camera - my choreography is used in that space of frame. One day I hope I can become a Director of Choreogpahy for movies, commercials.

"I want to thank all my dancers, my family and everyone who believed in me to make me stand where I am now", she concluded in saying.

For anyone who wants to be a part of her team or wants to showcase their talent to the world you'll can reach her through her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/muddrikadancestudio or contact her on muddrikas@gmail.