Mine’s a wicked character

Amandi Gomez the Mosquito…

I’m the villain of the story, ‘the mosquito’. It is a wicked character, who chases away the ants from their colony and cause chaos. However, at the end, my life was saved by the ants and it conveys a good message across to the audience. Since Kumbi Kathawa is a ballet, to convey my character to the audience I have to express a lot through facial expressions, gestures and postures and it’s quite challenging. I have been part of both previous productions and I acted different characters. This is the first time I am playing this role and I’m honoured to receive this character, as in both previous performances my Guru Thaji performed it. Her performance was absolutely brilliant and I don’t think I can ever match the quality of performance she delivered through her act. However, I am trying my level best to reach the expectation of my Gurus and I hope to perform well.

This is my eleventh year of being part of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya and this is like my second home. Here we learn not only dancing but also about our culture, tradition and basically life.

The cheerful ones

Anuththara Mendis - one of the grasshoppers

Five of us play the character of grass hoppers, who are quite cheerful. We are friends of the main ants’ family and we live in peace, being helpful to all the insects in the play. I played a firefly in the previous Kumbi Kathawa. I’m pleased to be part of the play this time as well. Our Gurus Anjalika, Heshma, Upekha and Thaji always help us correct our mistakes, and always fine tune steps, movements re-engineering and polishing our expressions.

We always work in harmony as a team and we are committed 100 percent to deliver what our Guru’s expect from us.

Other members of the Grasshoppers - Damesha Mallawaarachchi, Hiranthi Amritha and Sulani De Silva Other characters - Yasitha Jeewan (Tea Pot), Thedassi Piyasena, Mira Wignaraja, Anoush Ralapanawa, and Pabasari Malvindi (Tea Cups)

I am the queen

Sandani Sulochani - Queen of the ant’s colony

The story revolves around an ant colony that lives in harmony, sharing the workload and resources of the community and the disruption of their peaceful lifestyle by the arrival of wicked mosquito. I play a main character, the queen of the ants’ colony. I also play another role as a butterfly. This is the first time I’m taking part in a performance conducted by the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya and the experience is marvellous. I joined Chitrasena Kalayathanaya as a scholarship student two years ago and I did BA in Dancing at the University of Kelaniya. Although I did dancing for Advanced Level examination and acquired a specialized degree in dancing, I must say I started learning my ABC’s in dancing at the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya two years ago. The opportunity I received to take part in Kumbi Kathawa ballet is a real lifetime experience. I have never been involved in such a huge production even during the university days. During this time period, I learnt not only about dancing but choreography, lighting, costume designing and all the elements that are being part of a production. Chitrasena Kalayathanaya is a university for me and it enhances my knowledge and skills a lot.

Other members of the Butterfly family are- Heshini Tillekeratne, Sulakkana Maddugoda and Hiruni Siriwardena

A learning experience

Akhila Palipana one of the Beetles

I and two of my friends perform the character of Beetle. We perform at the tea-party hosted by ants of the colony. There we play drums with the ants. Ours is a fun character. This is my first time I got the opportunity to be part of the Kumbi Kathawa. I’m also a scholarship student of the academy. I completed my BA and specialized in Dancing. I’m privileged to be part of the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya as well as this giant production, where I got the chance to learn many things that cannot be expected even from a local university.

Other member of Beetles - Madushanka Manathunga and Charith

One of the heroes

Gayara Udawattha - father of the main ants’ family

I’m one of the heroes in the play and I have very responsible character to play. However, I didn’t understand it at the initial stage of the rehearsals thinking it was an easy character to play. However, gradually Madam Heshma taught me the seriousness of my character and how it feels to be the father of a family and how responsible that character should be. She moulded me to be a manly character, first by teaching me how to keep my body straight and broaden the shoulders. I think now I understand it well, for the more you get to know about your character the more it became challenging. There are seven members, including me as the father, mother and five children in the main family of the Kumbi Kathawa. We all do our best as our teachers instruct us and I hope we can deliver a better production. I like my role in Kumbi Kathawa and I enjoy being part of this massive production.

Other family members of the Kumbi Kathawa - Thanuli Jayawardane (Ant mother), Oneli Bandaranayke, Nirali Ambagahawatte, Nayanama Siriwardane, Ravindi Fernando, Avlok Wignaraja – (Ant children)

Other ants - Sulani De Silva, Pabasari Malvindi, Kavini Ralapanawa, Nidyana Amarasinghe, Faith Fernando, Sarah Benjamin, Ashritha Imbuldeniya, Reshana Kavindi, Yesith Wickramaratne, Devinka Gunathilake, Thaleesha Imbuldeniya, Niduni Chandraratne, Chaarya Gamage, Anoush Ralapanawa, Thedassi Piyasena

Keisha Leon, Senara Ranasinghe, Amodhya Amaraweera, Khiara Premaratne and Mira Wignaraja

Making the river flow

Sanjani Disanayake member of the River…

There are fifteen members performing the character of the river. We have heavy costume to control in the play and it is challenging. We did lot of training and rehearsals to control the heavy costume, while dancing and keeping the lines straight. This is the sixth year at the Chitrasena Kalayathanaya and I have learnt a lot during these years, not only dancing but discipline, commitment and our culture and tradition. We have lot to learn from our teachers. And although sometimes they are very tough and quite demanding at the end of the day, they do everything for our own good and betterment of our future.

Other members of the River - Senadie Ranmadugala, Samadhi Jayatilleke, Dhajini De Silva, Reshana Kavindi, Ashritha Imbuldeniya, Niduni Chandraratne, Vishmini De Costa, Malki Bothota, Girsha Kulatunga, Devinya Widanage, Niduli Abeysinghe, Sashikala Nayomi and Vinudi Hettiarachchi.

Friends of the ants

Minanga Jayasekara one of the Fireflies

Five of us play the character of fireflies. We are friends of the ants and help each other in the play. When the wicked mosquito destroys the ants’ colony, we help them to find a tin to live in temporary. Although we play a small part in the play, we enjoyed a lot being part of the play. Our teachers in the Kalayathanaya always help us to improve our skills in dancing.

Others as Fireflies - Deeshaka Ratnayake, Nehela Wijayapala, Inuthi Shakya, Suchetha Hewawasam andAyan Fuad