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| Sunday, 28 August 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Happenings / People Call of the Drums: WOMAD by Aditha Dissanayake Claimed as possibly the globes most high profile festival of world music by The Independent (July19 2005), WOMAD (World of Music, Art and Dance) will stage WOMAD Sri Lanka, a unique "all-drumming festival" from September 21 to 25 in Colombo, Kandy and Negombo.
According to Udaya Nanayakkara, Chairman, Sri Lanka Tourist Board, the staging of a unique WOMAD festival in Sri Lanka was designed to establish the country as a top destination for international events, which will further enhance the country's tourism appeal. "The fact that the WOMAD festival of drums reflects our heritage will throw spotlight on Sri Lanka's special and unique traditions" said Mr. Nanayakkara. Classical Kandyan dancer and master choreographer Ravibandhu Vidayapathy, with his distinct drumming and dance traditions will spearhead the line up of artists, which also includes world number one drummer Bill Cobham, hot UK dance act, The Bays, the Dhol Foundation and the Drummers of Brundi. Among the other artists are Indian drummer and composer Trilok Gurtu, whose music has influenced musicians worldwide, the Cuban band Asere and the unique Chemirani Zarb Trio from Iran. One of the highlights of the festival would be the event by Joji Hirota and the Taiko Drummers who will showcase in dramatic style the "taiko" (the large barrel drum dating back to ancient Japanese societies). Better than the most carefully worded diplomatic statement, WOMAD Sri Lanka with the blend of several musical styles from round the world is guaranteed to inspire the imagination and appease the senses, till it would be impossible not to get on to your feet and move to the rhythm of the drums. For more information visit: www.womadshop.com Special and successful by Mahes Perera Very much a part of the now accelerated entertainment scene, Cross Section will be in groovy action at the eagerly awaited Maroon's Night organised yearly by the OBU of Nalanda College. The dance will be held on Saturday September 3 at the Ceylon Continental, and the organisers have planned out many surprises and prizes for the evening.
Cross Section was featured at 'Golden Gleam' the Peterite OBU dinner dance recently, and what a night it was, with the audience asking for more at the end of each of their sets. Cross Section will also be the featured band at the prestigious Royal Bradby Dance at the Citadel, Kandy organised by the Old Royalists on Saturday September 10. The Bradby rugby fever will be raging high during this week and the dance will be ideal for the rugby and music fans to cool off! The live wire behind this successful outfit is the accomplished and acknowledged singer Antoinette de Alwis whose finely tuned and spot on vocals is now synonymous with music. She is ably supported by the versatile singer/guitarist Rodney Rabot with a wide repertoire, his tour de force being the infectious rock and roll songs. The famous name in piano and keyboard artistry Harsha Makalande gives that touch of sophistication and distinction to the music, unparalleled to this day. There's the youthful Dilip Seneviratne on keyboards as well, providing cool harmonies on the keyboards and singing the latest pop songs. Playing a throbbing bass to entice the dancers on to the floor is Timal Jayamanne who chips in with vocals. Holding the rhythms together and giving that extra thrust to the band is the singer/drummer Raj Emmanuel. With such a line up of highly talented musicians no wonder that Cross Section has been kept busy with a hectic schedule of playing for weddings and functions. In October, Antoinette tells us that the band will jet across to Hong Kong to play for the dance organised by Sri Lankan Association for October 10. On their return the group will slip into their schedule of dance and wedding dates. If you are thinking of ending the year on an exciting note, tee off at the Royal Colombo Golf Club and catch their performance on December 31. Cross Section is a special collaboration of musicians, successful and beautifully balanced in the blending of styles and material. Ms. Lanka 'Beauty for a cause' The search is on for Ms. Lanka 2005...
Beautiful Sri Lankan women over seventeen-years of age, irrespective of their marital status, are invited to send in their photographs with the entry coupon to Gwendoline Kuhatheva, Director, Technique International before September 7, 2005 Ms. Lanka, 'Beauty for a cause' is now on its eleventh year, and each year the organisers have chosen a worthy cause to support. Some of these include Daya Mina, the mentally retarded children's vocational centre... assisting the project 'Pipena Kusum' a project of PEACE ... training differently abled (deaf persons) in hairdressing and salon management at Rathmalana the School for the deaf ... setting up a bakery at the Vajira Home for the children... 'Talking Book Library' for the Sri Lanka Federation of the visually handicapped ... setting up a development Centre for 'Women in Batticaloa' and setting up funds to uphold the health, especially in family planning, pre-natal and post-natal care for the 'women's wing' of the Federation of the visually handicapped. Last year in association with Lions Club Park Circle for the project of canteen and toilet facilities for Kattakaduwa Maha Vidyalaya. Ms. Lanka 2005- is in aid of assisting the women's wing of the Sri-Lankan federation of the visually handicapped in their project to provide educational equipment to the blind school in Ratmalana. The pageant is scheduled to be held in November 2005 presented by Thalgo
Cosmetics. Event sponsors include Asian Fabrics, and Sterling Flowers. |
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| Produced by Lake House |
Named by the Guinness Book of Records as the "Biggest international music
festival" WOMAD festivals are renowned for their vibrant carnival
atmosphere, as well as for the workshops and stalls with clothes, jewellery
and cuisine on offer to the festival goers. 
