|
|
 |
 |
| Sunday, 10 August 2003 |
 |
|
 |
Magazine |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
|
Oosha by LAKMAL WELABADA
It was aunty Oosha's ballet school. The seniors of the Oosha Garten of Ballet were rehearsing their tip-toe pointe work, barre work with Por de bra, soutes and grounjates - stretching and arm movements, jumps and other exercises along with mime practices for their forthcoming concert. 'Joie de la Dance' (Joy of Dance), to be held at the Lionel Wendt Theatre from 22 to 24. Renowned dance teacher Oosha Saravanamuttu, affectionately known as "aunty Oosha" among young and old of ballet enthusiasts in Sri Lanka reaches her seventieth mile post of age this year. She is a ballet dancer, choreographer, pianist and violinist. More than anything her charm as a loving yet strict teacher, wins her constant success. Being one of the pioneers in teaching ballet in Sri Lanka since 1964, the number of pupils she has taught is countless. "I didn't earn houses and other property, but pupils. The happiness I get by seeing them dancing is immeasurable. I feel all of them are my own children," she says. She swears she is another simple Sri Lankan teacher in dancing. "It was my grandmother who diagnosed the 'talent fever' I had for dancing, and sent me to Ms. Margory Sample's Sample School of Ballet. I did not go abroad to learn this art," she recalled. Though she did not put it into practice, Kandyan dancing was also one of the dancing forms she learnt along with western ballet. "Ballet was a dance form originating in Italy and was most welcome in France and Russia. During the European colonial period, ballet was introduced to Asia including Ceylon. And today it belongs to the whole world," she said recalling a bit of history. "Ballet is a dancing form with lot of disciplines. It's meditative. It strengthens one's soul by unifying the body and the mind. Once you develop a healthy body and mind it enhances your spirit with lot of confidence in life," she explained.
Her students' ages vary from four years to thirties. Some students who started learning the little steps of ballet when they were tots, and then had a pause due to their academic pursuits, have returned to aunty Oosha after so many years. "It's wonderful," she smiles. "It proves that ballet is not merely a dance form, but also a healthy pastime as well," she said. Oosha Saravanamuttu's dedication to the art of ballet was honoured by Zonta Awards in 1989 and SAARC Awards in 2003. 'Joi de la Danse' will be another dazzling production by this radiant woman which will thrill all dance lovers. Twenty to thirty senior pupils of Aunty Oosha (both males and females) will display their talent with eight items in the forthcoming show. It will be performed to both classical and modern music. Renowned drummer Ravibandu will provide the drum accompaniment to the item called 'Drums' fusing classical and modern elements to express the joy of dance. 'Ravel's Bolero' will be another breathtaking item. Two dances from an earlier ballet by Oosha 'The colours of love' and 'Nature' will add a serene mood to the whole performance while the stunning 'Spartacus' and the lyrical 'La Bayadere' add a dramatic touch. In complete contrast is the delightful excerpt from the 'Maple Leaf Rag' by jazz legend Scott Joplin. This is a lively and humorous piece. 'Tribute to Sinatra' and some favourite hits like Ole Blue Eyes, 'That's Life' and the poignant 'When Somebody Loves You' will also feature in the show. 'Joie de la Danse will be a memorable event for all dance lovers in Sri Lanka. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
| Produced by Lake House |
The mesmerising dance poses of the
beautiful ballet dancers reminded me of the pictures I had seen in a fairy
tale book when I was a little girl. But the fair pretty performers who
captivated me for a few seconds were real. I was not in the midst of a
fairy tale.
