Dance subsumes words

Priyanka Kurugala in Dietikon, Switzerland

For her Bharatha Natyam was an easy walk. She was born with the talents. Although permanently settled in Switzerland, K Jayawani is truly a Sri Lankan. Her medium to show her cultural identity is much admired Bharatha Natyam. She obtained her initial training at the Sri Pada College of Education in Sri Lanka.

K Jayawani

Now a teacher of Bharatha Natyam, Jayawani's classes are held in Dietikon, Kanton and Zurich.

Jayawani started practising the Bharatha Natyam when she was still a girl of five years. She was skilful in grasping the subjects when learning at Mallavi Central College, Vanni, but was extraordinarily talented in grasping aesthetic subjects. "I had 60 pupils when I had my first classes in Sri Pada."

Jayawani migrated to Switzerland in 2006 following her marriage. She had to stay away from the subject for some time. But it was not for ever. She held her Arangethram in 2010 in a grand scale in Hatan, under the patronage of many Sri Lankan art fans. And now there are Tamils, Swiss and Italians practising the much revered dance under her guidance. They organize cultural events on behalf of the Sri Lankan embassy as well.

"The Swiss always admire our culture. It has been a good moral support right throughout.

It has inspired me to continue practising this art despite my busy schedule with my kids," Jayawani says.

That is how she has got courage to hold another cultural event in the month of July.

"First, I have to pay my hearty gratitude to my teacher and parents who supported me in many ways to go ahead in this field.

They gave me a vast courage to face any challenge and do what I can," she said. Dancing is a practical subject.

Even though Sinhalese and Tamils cannot communicate in one language, they find it easy to maintain a good dialogue through aesthetic subjects, Jayawani comments.