Ruhunu Ballet: Cultural Ambassadors from the South

by Ranga Chandrarathne

An ensemble of dancers formed in 1997 in the Southern Province by the Southern Province Development Authority (SDA), has now grown out be a fully fledged and accomplished set of dancers who carry on the rich legacy of dancing traditions of Southern, Upcountry, in diction unique to them, to the far corners of the globe.

Founded and nurtured under the guidance of then SDA Chairman Navin Gunaratne, the troupe at the inception, consisted of 22 enthusiastic dancers (14 boys and eight girls) and the next two years the SDA financed the troupe. Though the Ruhunu Ballet receives assistances from the SDA, it has been running as a private institution.

In an unique style invented out of Classical Russian ballet and Sri Lankan Vannam, Ruhunu Ballet's performances are choreographed by Bandara Siriwardene and the music composed by Mahesh Denipitiya. When Prince Charles visited Sri Lanka , Ruhunu Ballet presented the "Lanka Sri Ballet and the cultural show". Music for this performance was composed by maestro Premasiri Kemadasa.

Piyasara Shilpadipathy, Geron de Silva and Senaka de Silva helped Siriwardena Bandara, the troupe leader to invent a new style of dancing.

Twenty four members of the troupe are drawn from traditional dancing families and are well versed in typical southern dance forms, Ruhunu Dance that are ritualistic in form and originated from pre-Buddhist folk religion and traditions. The ensemble has dedicated itself to preserv and foster this unique traditional dance form, while judiciously blending it with Classical Russian ballet and Vannam style of dancing to suit the contemporary stage.

During the tourist season, Ruhunu Ballet always occupies a prominent place in the musical scene in the Southern Province and often performed at leading tourist hotels in the area.

In addition to being a performing troupe, it also provides educational opportunities for aspiring dancers to master this art. Southern, Up Country, Bharata, Khatakali, ballet, Western and Ballroom dancing are the varieties of dancing that Ruhunu Ballet offers for its students.

According to Siriwardena Bandara, the troupe consists of young members, most of them, hailing from traditional dancing families and some others are either university students or professionals in the craft.

Ruhunu Ballet has performed here and toured many countries including Japan , Germany , Korea , Sweden , Italy , Switzerland and France .

Based in the village of Kosgoda , Ruhunu Ballet conducts practical sessions in their own facility in Kosgoda throughout the week besides performing at leading hotels in the area. The costumes for Ruhunu Ballet is done by Kanchana Thalpawila and Senaka de Silva.

The style that Siriwardena Bandara had developed includes the representation of traditional Vannams such as the thuranga (horse), mayura (peacock), nai adhi (cobra), kirala (red-wattled lapwing), ukusa (eagle) and gajaga (elephant). In the Vannam style of dancing, the prominent characteristics of each and every animal that particular Vannam is dedicated to, is recreated on stage in terms of extemporized movements.