Cultural DIARY

Hasini holds Arangetram down under

by Henry AMBEPITIYA

Hasini in a dance pose

Fifteen year-old Hasini Wickramasekara, daughter of Sri Lankan born Nalaka and Subashee and a student of the renowned guru of Baratha Natyam, Smt. Ushanthini Sripathmanathan of "Natyalaya" in Melbourne held her Bharatha Natyam Arangetram in Melbourne, Australia recently.

The carefully chosen dance items began with a invocatory dedicated to Lord Ganesh, followed by "Jetheeswaram", a pure dance sequence of limb movement executed in an ingenious weaving of adavus to different time measures.

Then came the longest dance item, Varnam, the most complete picture of Baratha Natyam, combining pure dance, expressive dance and the dramatic element, in which the dancer addressed Lord Vishnu.

After the well-deserving intermission, Hasini danced to T.M. Jayaratne's "Chandikamata Randuwak Wela" in which the mother's point of view was expressed, Hasini portraying several characters being those of the mother, son, sister and friends.

In "Me Koi Yanne" based on Edward Jayakody's composition, the dual dialogue describes the painful scenarios of travellers aiming to visit Raigama through the jungle, where Hasini depicted the various animals encountered in the arduous journey, such as the elephant, the tiger, the snake and giraffe. The next two items were "Anoththathavila" and "Nadha Salamba", both based on Sunil Sarath Perera's compositions. In the former, the dancer attempts to express the desire of a young maiden plucking flowers in the lake, while in the latter dedicated to Lord Muruga of Kataragama, she danced with bells on her feet to relieve worries and to fulfil her wishes.

Chitral in focus

Chitral Somapala the versatile musician/singer, son of the legendary P. L. A. Somapala and Chitra will be centre stage at two performances at the Galadari on January 14 and 15. He will be backed by the popular group Mirage. Chitral who has inherited the singing and composing talents of his parents, has earned a name for himself in Germany as a solo singer performing in different languages including Sinhala. His performances will commence at 7.30 p.m. on each day.

Nari Bena, Jasaya saha Lenchina and Hunuwataye Kathawa

Dayananda Gunawardana's Nari Bena, Simon Navagaththegama's Jasaya saha Lenchina and Henry Jayasena's Hunuvataye Kathava will be staged at the new Tower Hall, Colombo 10 on January 14, 15 and 16 respectively at 3.30 p.m. and 6.45 p.m.

Painting exhibition on Sinharaja forest

A three-day exhibition of paintings, titled `The Sinharaja will be held at Lionel Wendt Art Gallery, Colombo 7 on January 14, 15 and 16.

BOOK LAUNCH

Polonnaruwa Kapila Thapasveenge Prathimava

A. M. Karunaratna's historical book "Polonnaruwa Kapila Thapasveenge Prathimava" will be launched at the National Library Services and Documentation Board auditorium on January 13 at 3.30 p.m.

Award-winning writer Karunaratna is the author of "Umbalage Senehe hunu nethi Bulath vita vage", "Paruva padina thuru," "Thavalle gedara podi eka" and "Uthuru kuru satana."

The launching ceremony will be presided over by Sri Jayewardenepura University Chancellor Ven. Prof. Bellanwila Wimalarathana Nayake Thera and the keynote address will be delivered by Prof. Chandra Wickrama Gamage.

The book is a Dayawansa Jayakody publication.