Dance for the love of it:

Foot-work

by Sajitha PREMATUNGE

It has often been referred to as a cross between art and a sport. Perfecting it requires a certain amount of physical dedication as well as mental concentration. In competitive dancing when every single movement is very specific and has to be done to precision, even a millimetre makes a difference.

Well I hate to burst your bubble people. Whatever people say and however an academic spin they like to put on it, as W. Chandratilleke puts it “It’s the attraction to the opposite sex that makes you want to start dancing!” The sort of social dancing that W. Chandratilleke offers is quite different from competitive dancing. It’s all about learning to love dancing here at W. Chandratilleke’s, where people in all walks of life take turns in stepping on each others’ toes but still seem to enjoy doing it.

Rosie Thuring, his assistant says “dancing relaxes your mind. Most people who come for lessons have a lot of problems, but as soon as you get in that dance floor every worry simply disappears.” Rosie started dancing in 2002.

Before she took up dancing she had also ‘tried her feet’ - so to say - at school level and down south dancing and later on moved on to ballroom dancing. “You have to be a performer to follow Sinhala dance. But this type of social dances are suitable for all” says Rosie.

She explained that it is a great confidence builder, a perfect ice breaker between the sexes. “Most of us were hopeless when we started, but later we came to enjoy it. But some are born with it.” With seven years of experience in the ballroom dancing field, Rosie Thuring has become an expert on the subject. Among the many types of Latin and ballroom dances such as cha-cha, jive, ramba, samba, salsa, quick step, waltz, fox trot, tango, etc... she said that jive is probably the fastest. “But no type is specifically difficult.

Every dance has a different feel to it and everyone dances a different way; each person has a different rhythm.” She further explained that dancing is like walking, but what matters is the poses.

Panduka Mendis, aged 46, who has eight years experience in dancing, confessed that he didn’t even want to dance at first. “A friend dragged me into this place.” But explained that everyone gets addicted later on.

“Cricket has started to get boring, this is a great pastime.” He admitted that he struggled a bit at first, but later fell head over heels in love with dancing. Mendis said that he likes ballroom more than Latin, and for him the most difficult is the Slow fox trot. Apart from the other obvious plus points, Mendis explained that it is a great form of exercise, although W. Chandratilleke does not encourage regarding ‘dancing’ as a mere form of exercise.

According to Chandratilleke people should dance for the love of it, rather than as a form of exercise.

Debbie Vywers, who works for MAS Holdings is a South African, who has rediscovered her love for dance, in Sri Lanka. “Ever since I can remember I’ve always wanted to dance. I always thought I would go professional” says Debbie. She has studied sulsa in South Africa. She claimed that she also did a bit of competitive dancing and that was when she developed her love for Latin dances. Her personal favourites are cha-cha and jive, “because of the beat, they are very rhythmic.” She explained that although the waltz looks simple enough it is very intricate. In fact the waltz that originated way back in the 1600s is considered the mother of all dances. Most other ballroom dances are believed to have sprung from the waltz.

Debbie has been taking dancing lessons from Chandratilleke for three months and says she is thoroughly enjoying it. “The way it is presented makes it so easy for beginners to catch up. I am sure that most of the people who came here first didn’t know how to dance, but now they do.” She claims that, because of dance lessons, she is more confident wherever she goes. “Most Sri Lankans don’t just come upto you and talk. Dancing is a real ice breaker.” Moreover she explained that dancing teaches one how to carry oneself. It’s not just dancing. It teaches men how to be gentlemen.

Jithendra Fernando, aged 35, started dancing 12 years ago. “I wanted to learn dancing because I had to attend a dinner dance with a friend and his sister” said Jithendra. He now does it for health reasons. But claimed that he liked it at first because of its professionalism. “it’s not like disco, it’s very relaxing after a hard week of work.” He explained that music in the background and being with people who share your interests has a tendency to erase the past. He explained that this type of social dancing is different from competitive dancing. In competitive dancing the dress codes are different. Competitive dancers modify the dances. “But what you learn here is basically the same everywhere” explained Jithendra. And for him apart from other plus points, he also found his wife on the dance floor! “Now I come here once a month.”

Jithendra says it is pretty scary when you dance with a girl for the first time. “But then you get used to it.” The hardest part about ballroom dancing is probably the fact that the man needs to lead. Most women forget that they are supposed to ‘follow’. Consequently stepping on toes here at Chandratilleke’s is a regular mishap.

To wrap it up there is nothing more romantic than dancing, no other feeling can be compared to having that person you love in your arms.