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| Sunday, 22 May 2005 |
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Kanya : An ode to innocence **** 'Kanya' is a ballet which consists of several dance acts. such as the Kite Dance, Dance of Sarasvati, Peacock Dance, Eagle Dance and other dances.
*** Some thirty years ago, a little boy started dancing lessons, he was only six, and I doubt very much that he knew where those dance lessons would lead him. I doubt, very much too, that his parents knew. His teacher was Vajira Chitrasena, he was awarded 'Vez' by Kulasiri Budewatte. I do not know, what their thoughts were but what I do know, and what I thank them for, is that they must have encouraged this boy to such an extent that he never gave up either his dancing lessons or his love for dancing.
At the age of 18, this young man joined Sama Ballet where Gurus, Ravi Bandu Vidyapathi, Mudiyanse Dissanayake Piyasara and Kanthi Shilpadhipathi were training. Sama Ballet then toured Asia and Europe and he danced in many cities in Europe including Saddlers Wells Theatre in London. In 1990 Chandana had extended his skills to choreography. In 1994, Chandana went to India to study 'Katakali' and 'Manipuri' dances, he studied at the University of Visva Barasti Santiniketan, India and on his return in 1996, he was appointed Consultant Dancer to Ruhunu Ballet by the Sri Lankan Southern Development Authority. Chandana then got into bigger things. I did not have the pleasure of seeing his first big show 'Poetry in Motion' though I have seen the VCD, containing many of the dances that were on that show. I did however, see 'Sthree' which was brilliantly performed last year in Colombo. More recently his dancers performed a full length ballet Mayuru Sandeshaya, at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre. It was stunning. The ballet depicted the history of the peacock as a messenger in the 5th Dynasty. The commentary was in Sinhalese. I was able to follow the story from the dance performance. Upto 70, dancers crowded the small stage for most of the time, the costume changes were so rapid that they would have put many western theatrical companies to shame. For me, the performance was riveting. There was no time to applaud while the show was on, but there was a standing ovation at the end of it. His dance works include 'The Peacock Dance', this dance alone was equal to the Royal Command Performance in London, for it is one of the most beautiful dances to be seen anywhere in the world. I had the pleasure of seeing the members of the Bolshoi Ballet watch this dance at the press conference which welcomed them to Sri Lanka recently, they were enthraled by it. Chandana and the Dancers Guild had been invited to perform at that press conference in recognition of their skills. I am aware that Chandana's troupe performs 'Freestyle Dancing' and not the more traditional works of Sri Lanka and so does the Bolshoi Ballet. One only has to see the troupe dance works like 'Ducks', 'Eagle', 'Kanya', 'Naaga', 'New Arabic', 'Mediterranean Love' and 'The Kite Dance' to realise the huge potential that this man has. He has a troupe of 30 boys and girls, who are dedicated to their dance and are all experts in stage make up. They train for long hours, for up to six days a week and then they have performances at night, yet they remain loyal and happy in what they do. They project their happiness when they perform before an audience. Their dancing is full of grace and style: they are precision dancers and a joy to watch. No other dance group have I seen, in Sri Lanka that have come anywhere near. I take great personal pleasure in not only watching them perform, but also in my association with the troupe. I think of them all as 'My Grandchildren.' I was overjoyed and honoured to be appointed Manager to the Dancers Guild by Chandana in October last year. They have been invited to perform at the Peterborough Arts Festival in the United Kingdom in June and I shall have the pleasure of taking them there, through the generosity of Qatar Airways, who are sponsoring the flight and Peterborough City Council who are sponsoring the groups' stay in Peterborough. They have danced before President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, the Prime Minister and many dignitaries of this country. They have done promotional work for Qatar Airways, SriLankan Airlines and many big firms and organisations, both in Sri Lanka and abroad. They have appeared many times on television, most recently the Sumathi TV National Awards Show on ITN Television and Rawdun Gee on Rupavahini TV. Chandana is a devout Buddhist. At 36 he is not only a gentle man but he is also a gentleman. His dancers respect him and so do I. I see in him, a man still with a lot to do and one of great talent. He is a family man. His wife, Thanuri, is a gentle, quiet professional women and they have a charming daughter Devengi, who recently was featured with 'her daddy' when he was interviewed on television. My own work with Chandana Wickramasinghe and The Dancers' Guild will continue for as long as I am able. On May 28 I am producing a show at the Lionel Wendt Theatre starring the Dancers. 'Kanya' which will contain many of Chandana's new creations. These shows will be our last major event before going to the United Kingdom in June. - Ian Bennett Chandana Wickramasinghe's 'Kanya' will be staged at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on May 28. |
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According to Chandana, the concert is called 'Kanya' because of the
young girls who take part in the ballet 'Kanya' along with Mayura
Sandeshaya will be taken to England in June and New York in July to be
staged in various cities. Chandana believes that it's easier to take
traditional dance abroad. He says there is a big competition to take
creative dance to international level. Only the best get to go. It's after
many years that a Sri Lankan ballet is being staged abroad, says Chandana
adding that they've come a long way in creative dance. 
We have much to thank them for, for they gave us not only a good dancer
but an excellent choreographer, trainer, costume and dance jewellery
designer as equal to the best anywhere in the world. He would have been
academically oriented but he did not follow it as a choice of career. Much
to the benefit of all of us he chose dancing. The little boy's name was
Chandana Wickramasinghe. 
