Homage to theGrand Dame of Dance

Ishara Jayawardane

Sharmila, former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumarathunga, Sunethra Bandaranaike, Nihal and Lionel Pictures by Sarath Peiris

The evening was pulsing with power. Some of the most powerful and eminent people in Sri Lanka were gathered to pay homage to Vajira Chitrasena at India house.

Vasudeva Nanayakkara, Former President Chandrika Kumaratunga, Nihal Rodrigo, ANCL Chairman Bandula Padmakumara and the Chief Guest Sarath Amunugama were all present at the occasion. Vajira Chitraseana sat inside India House like a candidate awaiting the results of an election. During Chief Guest Sarath Amunugama’s speech it started to pour with rain, almost as if the rain gods had come to see this pint seized dancing prodigy. As everyone sat in the lawn, one got the feeling that Vajira is extremely fortunate to be acknowledge during her life which was almost like a coronation. It is humbling to see such a demonstration of love from some of the most distinguished people in Sri Lanka Society.

Oh Vajira you have so many names! The Grand dame of Sri Lankan dance, the mother of Sri Lanka dance. Mother to your daughters and son, and grandmother to your grand children and great grandchildren.

“We have gathered her to felicitate a living legend in Sri Lanka. We are here to celebrate Vajira’s remarkable life and achievements. And with a very happy coincidence it is also her 81st birthday. This is an auspicious occasion. Today we celebrate her remarkable artistic journey spanning over six decades. She has been heaped with well deserved epithets and accolades. She has danced for over 63 years. Her beginning of her artistic career was when she took part in Pageant of Lanka, which was her debut for an audience in Colombo she was 15 years old then. In Guru Chitrasena’s Ramayanaya she acted the part of the deer.

Vajira and Irangani

Janaka and Dinesha

Mano, Upeka and Indian High Commissioner Ashok K Kantha

Sharma and wife

Cutting the cake at th event

Anjalika, Meera and Savasthi

As prima ballerina of the Chitrasena Company, she has danced in almost every country including most countries in Europe. It was the beginning of a partnership between two great artists , first it was a partnership between a teacher and a pupil. Later it as Vajira and her illustrious husband. Her legendary artistic collaborator . Together the two of the worked to create some of the most loved ballets in Sri Lanka. As a 19 year she took part in the Ballet Chandali, playing the lead in 1952. It was changed and choreographed many times. Vajira did the choreography in 1996. At the age of 19 she created her first children’s ballet. She has done 17 ballets. She has done 13 – 14 children’s ballets while taking part in the adult ballets.

She was the first professional female dancer of the country. A great teacher she has worked together with many Sri Lankan artists. Together Chitrasena and Vajira put in place a new tradition and rich dance heritage. This rich dance tradition has been carried on by their daughters grand daughters and great grand daughters.

They have imbibed this dance style. Today we also celebrate the common cultural heritage of Sri Lanka and India. It is a heritage based on shared links. Here Guru Chitrasena and Vajira have played a

very important role. They have old links with India way back in 1939 Guru Chitrasena had his first exposure to India when he went to learn Kathakali dance. His role here was a catalyst to blossoming as a dancer,” said Ashok K. Kantha, High Commissioner of India in Sri Lanka. Past President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Kumaratunge who spoke next, said she was humbled and privileged to speak at the occasion and marked the greatness of Vajira and Chitrasena’s journey in the arts. “My association with Chitrasena and Vajira go back a long time. Vajira is undoubtedly the best exponent of the Kandyan dance form that the country has produced in recent times. She is an exquisite dancer embodying grace and poise which remain unparalleled. Vajira and Chitrasena dedicated themselves totally to the preservation and enhancement to the Kandyan dance.”

With the sky portending rain Chief Guest Sarath Amunugama took to the stage. “Today we celebrate an icon of Sinhala culture, to her tremendous contribution to dance. It was particularly after 1957 when Chitrasena and Vajira lead the first cultural troupe- official cultural delegation to the Soviet Union. Vajira has made a distinctive contribution to dance that only a genius can make. The distinctive part of Chitrasena and Vajira’s dance is its eclectic form.