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| Sunday, 4 July 2004 |
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'Sthree' an ode to women by Rashomi Silva
The performance is a fusion of traditional Sri Lankan and Indian dances (Kathakali and Manipuri) together with few other branches of oriental dancing. The music used throughout the play is a blend of Sri Lankan and Indian classical that is in perfect harmony with nature. Both the music and the performances are inspired by nature. Any special reason? Chandene says he is a nature lover and that may be the reason why his creations are always influenced by nature and the beauty of nature.
The performance begins with the scene of an aged mother seated in an easy chair. She rocks her chair to and fore contemplating the lazy leisure of the latter part of her life. All her earthly responsibilities are over and she has decide to dedicate the last stage of her life to her Gods and had become a 'Devadasi'. But the sound of a wailing baby takes her mind to a journey of the past - to her former girlhood, womanhood and motherhood, before finally returning to the tranquillity of old age. Her memories come in a series of dances. Her young days are represented by a peacock, that epitomise the glories of youth. The caring and nurturing period of motherhood is portrayed by a duck and her ducklings. Each dance is unique and is accompanied by a tune complementing the moves.
Life was not filled with happy-sweet memories for this woman, for as with any other human being, her life too has its bitter moments. Her moments of glory as well as despairs are personalised in the dance of two cobras, where the woman get into a fight with another woman showing how venomous she could be when the need arise and the time comes. "All these dances are my creations," says Chandene Wickramasinghe. "In our country we have a glorious dancing culture, handed-down by our forefathers. And unless we do our own innovations and contribute towards taking this art forward, Sri Lankan traditional dance will come to a stage of stagnation," he fears. "For that you need to be fearless and if you have the commitment and dedication together with the knowledge and discipline, you need not fear to make new innovations. Commenting on the new generation of dancers he says that they lack the discipline of his generation and his predecessors.
His journey from a student of dancing to his present state of dancer and teacher of dancing was not a bed of roses. All what he has achieved is through dedication and hard work. Before going to India, he performed in 'Sama Ballet' as a dancer for seven years. After returning from India he worked as a consultant for 'Ruhunu Ballet' a venture of the Southern Development Authority. His first public performance Nirthya Puja was staged in 2002 and was followed by Poetry in Motion. Nirthya Puja was the first concert of the students of his dancing institution and Chandene says the success of it gave him an immense satisfaction. Chandana together with his journalist wife Dilhani run Chandene and the Dancers Guild, a Dance Troupe, and a Dancing Institution where male and female students from age 3 to age 25 years learn the art of dancing. The school has placed special emphasise on disciplining the students. The day begins with vigorous exercise. "Dancing is a form of meditation and therefore it is important to keep one's body and mind well balanced," says Chandene. Describing dancing as one of the most lucrative and a noble profession today, he however says that to come to that stage of earning, one has to first dedicate him/herself for learning and the most important thing is to discipline oneself. Funds raised from Sthree will be in aid of the Old Girls' Association of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo. |
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Sthree the 17th dance performance of popular dancing troupe 'Chandene
and the Dancers' will be staged at the Town Hall, on July 9th.
Sthree portrays the life cycle of a woman. Each dance is dedicated to a
particular stage of a woman's life and is represented by an animal.
Thinking about the jubilant moment of her life, the time she met her
life partner, she feels light and gay and wants to share her joy with the
performers. Then forgetting the infirmities of old age, she joins the
dancers to relive the moment.
That is the main reason the parents are not thrilled at the idea of
their children embarking on dancing as a carrier, he adds. After learning
the ABC of dancing in Sri Lanka, Chandene went to Shanthi Nikethanaya in
India to further his knowledge.
