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| Sunday, 25 January 2004 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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'A Royal Performance' for Harold Seneviratne fans : Musical milestone
It was an evening for all Harold Seneviratne fans, those who enjoy his special sound and for those who find happiness in hearing the melodies of yesteryear be they young and old. "A Royal Performance' - Harold Seneviratne in celebration" presented by the '83 Group of Old Royalists in collaboration with D.R. Entertainments on Saturday January 17 saw a capacity packed audience at the BMICH displaying their appreciation of the music they miss by their sustained cheering and clapping to the rhythms of the melodies which would have certainly warmed the heart of Harold Seneviratne - saxophonist and band leader. media sponsor was Sunday Observer. With the appropriate opener 'There's No Business Like Show Business' played with a lot of verve by the Combo, Harold Seneviratne swung into a selection of tunes always associated with his many dance events - tunes like It's Only A Paper Moon, Sail Along Silvery Moon, Ice Creak. Singers followed thereafter paying their tribute to the musician who has given 57 years of his life to the music industry.
Dalreen opened this segment singing 'When I Need You' with her usual panache and despite technical and sound distortation that marred her second song, her professionalism scored. Other singers were Russ Gomes with his rendition of 'Pennies from Heaven', 'All I Have To Do Is Dream' and La Bamba. A singer associated with Harold's career was Jean van Heer who sang 'Make the Knife', 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows' and 'Oh my Papa' - a tribute to Donovan Andree. Pianist Peter Prins, who was Harold's pianist before he headed his own group, played a set with Harold to bring back memories of Harold's halcyon days. 'The Way You Look Tonight,' and 'Secret Love' were included in this set which also saw Denzil and Bosco sing their Blue Diamond medley and Harold's grandson young Shehan Ranatunge making his debut with a smooth 'Can't Help Falling in Love.' Of the present day musicians who saluted Harold were Sunil Perera (Gypsies) who sang 'Swing Low' and his now famous 'I Don't Know Why' the Merry An Singers in a well arranged 'Autumn Leaves', 'Yesterday' and the 'Saints'. Corinne and Ronnie in a delightful skit 'There's a Hole in the Bucket' and later both of them in strong individual performances Corinne in 'I Will Survive' and Ronnie 'Something About You Baby'. There was Ishan Bahar in a rock 'n roll mood, Rajiv Sebastian and the El Latino dances adding glamour to the show. The Harold Seneviratne Combo for the show comprised Harsha Makalande - piano, Rodney van Heer - sax, Maxi Pietersz - bass, Clifford Andrews - guitar and Royle Andrews - drums. ###### Netherlands Embassy to screen children's movies The Royal Netherlands Embassy in association with the Winson Film International has organised a Children's Film Festival from February 7 to 13 at Elphinstone Theatre, Maradana, Colombo.
This will be the second Netherlands Children's Festival in Sri Lanka. The fist was held in 1997. The festival will have seven quality films for children and youth free of charge and each film will be screened three times a day. The show times are 10.30 am, 2.30 pm and 5.30 pm. The seven films include Minoes (92 minutes), Long Live the Queen, Pietjebell, Little Crum (119 minutes), The Purse Snatcher, Abeltje (Abel the Flying Lift Boy) and Loonies. The film Loonies is recommended for students above 15 years. Those interested could view the synopsis of the films in the English language on www.netherlands.lk or can obtain Sinhala and Tamil translations from the Netherlands Embassy, 25, Torrington Avenue, Colombo 7. The organisers invite school principals to make advance booking with Entertainment Unlimited dialling 011-5355411 or fax 011-5355412 to avoid disappointment. ###### India's top Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi exponent performs in Colombo One of India's most inspired and dedicated Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi dancers Ananda Shankar Jayant, hailing from Andra Pradesh will grace the Colombo stage on January 30 at the Bishop's College Auditorium at 7.00 pm. The event is organised by the International Centre for ethnic studies (ICES), Neelan Tiruchelvam Trust and the Law and Society Trust in connection with the 60th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. Neelan Tiruchelvam.
Trained in Kuchipudi by Sri Ramalinga Sastry, Ananda is a 'top' grade artiste of Doordashan and an 'established' artiste of the Indian Council of Cultural Relations. Recipient of numerous awards, she was conferred with the most talented artiste of Andra Pradesh and recently the prestigious Tamil Nadu State award of Kalaimamani. During a five week exchange programme of the Rotary International USA, Ananda was the sole representative for Indian dance and culture wherein she proved her prowess as an artist and a theoretician by giving many lecture demonstrations as well as programmes. She performs regularly in all the major sabhas in Chennai such as Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha, Kartik Fine Arts, Narada Gana Sabha during the annual December season. Ananda has directed and presented four path breaking dance ballets Sri Krishnam Vande Jagadugurm, Buddham Saranam Gachchami and Jonathan Livingston Seagull which have staged widely in India and abroad. Ananda has a posting in South Central Railway as Deputy General Manager and is also the Honorary Director of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, a premier institution for dance and music in Hyderabad. |
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| Editorial | Security Produced by Lake House |
Acclaimed not only for the exquisite perfection of her dance, Ananda is
also hailed as a creative artist, who brings to every one of her items a
depth, intensity and naturalness. A graduate of the world renowned
Kalakshetra, Ananda has performed in various cities in India and abroad
says a press release from ICES.
