Cultural Diary
Traditional and contemporary folk dance performance
A traditional and contemporary folk dance performance by Rivega Dance
Studio will be held at Lionel Wendt theatre at 7.00p.m on May7.
The performance is made up of Dalu Mura (The Bulath Padaya a section
from the Hath Padaya belongs to the up country Kohomba Kankari Shanthi
Karmaya) , Thaname (a crescendo of musical sounds brought together to
perform an up country traditional dance. (Danced by Rangika & Rangana),
Yathura( harvest dance showing rice cultivation), Senpathiyo (A male
dance combining ancient fighting & up country dance style, Riddibisav(A
section from a low country ritual, Pol Katu (A dance showing one of our
chief exports, the coconut, which we use here as a prop & also to
decorate the costumes, Semera(A dance showing the fanning of our kings
by courtiers (female), EluwanKaema(A dance which is performed by
children especially during the festive Sinhala), Thataya(Instruments
brought together for a drum orchestra), Raksha(Raksha which is a
traditional low country dance using face masks, Pathuru(Pathura a dance
with clappers which is used as the main attraction for the village folk
dance, Sankalana (An experimental dance combining regional dance styles
of low country, up country, Bharatha Natyam (India) and Western
dance.).The Rivega Dance Studio was set up in 2001 by Rangika Jeevantha
and his twin brother Rangana while both were still in school.
The brothers are warmly appreciative of their supportive parents and
family.Rangika has just graduated after four years at the University of
Visual & Performing Arts.Rangana has done a Bachelor of Business Studies
(BBs) at Charles Stuart University, Melbourne, Australia, and also
continue to dance.
Spring recital
by Mahes PERERA
An interesting programme of classical music by the Menaka Singers
will be presented by the Alliance Francaise on Friday May 7 at 7.30 p.m.
It is a welcome return of the Menaka Singers under the direction of
Menaka De Fonseka Sahabandu, and this Spring Recital will feature solos
and ensemble by the Senior Singers of the choir singing a repertoire
from the Classical, Romantic and Modern periods. The programme will
include Arias and Art songs from Handel, Mozar, Donizetti, Debussy,
Faure, Cesar Franck, Lehar and Bernstein. The singers will be
accompanied on the piano by Menaka, who holds a Fellowship from the
Trinity College, London for Voice and Piano and a Licentiate from the
Royal Schools of Music for Voice and Piano and is one of the leading
Piano and Vocal teachers in Western Classical music in Sri Lanka.
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Menaka De Fonseka
Sahabandu |
The Menaka Singers have had their fair share of success and
appreciation not only in Sri Lanka but abroad as well when they
performed in several International operas. The most recent appearance
was in 'Sij'etais Roi' at the Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi under the
auspices of 'Bonjour India' of the French Embassy in New Delhi and the
Neermana Music Foundation.
The other acclaimed performances by the Menaka Singers were in the
major productions of "The Pearl Fishers" and 'Carmen' both operas
composed by Georges Bizet. The group has worked with well-known
conductors Benjamin Levi, Clare Levacher, Pierre Michel Durand and opera
directors Patricia Panton and Jean-Francois Vinciguerra.
The Menaka Singers are regular prize winners, High Scorers and
Exhibition and Medal winners for Trinity College, London and Royal
Schools of Music London. Many of them have persued studies in voice and
opera in the USA and the UK and have been featured by the Symphony
Orchestra of Sri Lanka at many of their concerts.
Attendance is by invitation which could be collected at the Alliance
Francaise, Colombo.
Deegeta Evith (The Proposal) and Kandoskiriyawa
Deegeta Evith and Kandoskiriyawa, two comedies directed by Namel
Weeramuni will go on the boards at Punchi Theatre at 6.45 p.m. on May 6,
7 and 9. Degeta Evit is the adaptation of Anton Chekov's 'The Proposal'
while Kandoskiriyawa is a comedy by Somapala Gunadeera.
A significant departure from the previous adaptations of 'The
Proposal' is that it has been set against the backdrop of medieval
upcountry or Kandy where the gentlemen wore trouser underneath Sarong,
who were known at the time as Redda Assemahattaya (gentlemen underneath
the clothing).
The plays depict the life situation at the time they were written.
Kandoskiriyawa is woven around the chaotic situation at a polling
centre.
Two clerks and Returning Officer at the polling centre have to listen
to woes of the people who come to cast their votes. Mrs.Gajasinghe
boasts about her background and two clerks Panditha Kesara who shows off
his education and drunkard who is proud of himself come into clash with
Mrs.Gajasinghe. It becomes a nuisance to Returning Officer.
Malani Weeramuni, Wijeratne Warakagoda, Daya Thennakoon, Grace
Ariyawimal, Seneth Dikkumbura take part in Kandoskiriyawa while Anusha
Dissanayake, Anil Wijesinghe and Prabhath Manohara are in the cast for
'The Proposal'.
Accolades for Irahandayata at Singapore International Film Festival
Irahandayata, a film by Benet Ratnayake and Prasanna Vithanage's
Akasa Kusum were selected as two of the best 12 films for the 'Silver
Screen' award at the 23rd Singapore International Film Festival which
was held from April 15 to 24 in Singapore.
The story was woven around a chance meeting of two Sri Lankan
soldiers at LTTE's camp and a soldier who accepts responsibility for the
death of another albeit indirectly and his search for life.
The film was
well received by audience in Singapore. Irahandayta was selected for the
category of 'Best Performance' while Akasa Kusum was for 'Best Camera'.
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The ballet opera ' Patavi' goes on the
boards today at 5.45 p.m at Ananda College Hall, Colombo 10.
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