Arts

A tribute to a dancing legend

Life and times of Kalashuri Panibharata :

by Indeewara Thilakarathne and Ranga Chandrarathne

As the third year remembrance of the dancing legend is celebrated by the family members, Panibharata's daughters Jayawanthi, Upuli and his son-in-law Channa Wijewardena rekindle their fond memories of Kalashuri Dr. Panibharata as a father and a legendary dancer who was instrumental in the setting up of the University of Visual and Performing Arts.

Being versatile in diverse fields of arts from dancing to sculpture, Kalashuri Dr. Panibharata took the first step towards the formulation of a syllabus for Sri Lankan traditional dance.

Panibharata compiled the collective knowledge and unique tradition of Sri Lankan dance forms; Udarata (up country), pahata rata (low Country) and Sabaragamuwa traditions of dance which had been handed down from generation to generation over the years.

These unique dancing traditions were in danger of total extinction due to the practice of Guru Mushtiya (where the teacher will not impart certain portions of knowledge thus depriving the next generation of that part).

"Father had very little time to spare with us as he was busy throughout the day, delivering lectures in the morning and performing at concerts late into the evening. Even at home, he tried to teach something to us. Sometimes he spoke of his student days in India and how those dance traditions incorporated into Sri Lankan traditional dance, enhancing and nourishing the traditional dance.

We were greatly influenced by a lot of teachers who visited us. It was those long hours of discussions and what we had heard and learnt from them that subsequently led to the development of our personalities.

He was a strong proponent of Sinhalaness and our identity in dance. He always strived to nurture Sri Lankan dance and was instrumental in the setting up of the University of Visual and Performing Arts which was then known as 'Heywood'.

It was set up by J.D.A Perera and father became the first principal. Having gathered all the principal teachings of three traditional dance forms; Udarata, Pahata rata and Sabaragamuwa, he formulated a syllabus for the college which was later upgraded to university standards.

As an artist, he was gifted in many fields. He could sing, dance, draw, and costume design and was even very good at sculpturing. He had an overall knowledge of almost all forms of arts and knew Sanskrit as well.

We now see the fruits of father's labour and selfless sacrifices that he made in the arena of Sri Lankan traditional dancing which has now grown out to be a unique and peerless dance form that stand on its feet anywhere in the world.

Most of the critics accused Channa of modernising Sri Lankan dance. However, what Channa has done, is that he has disciplined the Sri Lankan traditional dance incorporating the western idea of 'body discipline' into it and refined it to suit the modern stage and lightings.

Under the spotlight movements have to be refined. Today's dancing has to be suited to lighting and electronic sounds and sound waves. We were recognized because of father and we are always identified as Panibharata's daughters Upuli and Jayawanthi", says Upuli and Channa on the multi-faceted personality of Panibharata.

"What most of the Sri Lankans who learnt drama in India did was to implant those traditions in Sri Lanka. However, Panibharata refined Sri Lankan dancing with that knowledge.

Panibharata and Chitrasena changed the notion of dancing where performances were made without basic facilities such as dressing rooms. The dance tradition is kept alive by the performers and it is the performers that attract aspirants to the field thus creating teachers and a generation of students.

These members of the troupe earn more than the top professionals. Once a professor miserably failed to speak to an international audience on fine arts in UK where Panibharata grabbed the microphone and addressed the gathering in the language he knew and performed.

The audience understood and was highly impressed by the talk. Panibharata always encouraged newcomers and their creations as he believed that the future of the tradition lies in creations.

A creation will not last long unless it is based on a firm ground of tradition. Panibharata was the first artiste who introduced solo-drumming, duets and drum-orchestra. He was very powerful at the dance, in any costume.

Academically, he did not write much but a lot of it can be learnt from his talking. Different creations came out of him while he spoke to himself. He would come out with brilliant creations, sometimes at 2.00 a.m.

He was like a moving library because he lived in it. We are very powerful in our tradition and it stands on its own anywhere in the world. However, we will not be powerful if not for artists like Panibharata and Chitrasena. "Said Panibharata's son-in-law, Channa Wijewardena.

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Divine music from Erik Berglund

Erik Berglund live in Concert in Colombo :

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

For the first time in Asia, the world famous harpist Erik Berglund will perform at St. Joseph's Chapel on February 27,2007. The Sri Lankan music lovers will get the rare opportunity of listening to the heart-awakeing devine tunes of Erik.

It is a mixture of extraordinary talents, spirits and healing power of God. One of the significant aspects of his music is that it awakens ancient memories and addresses the heart and mind of the listener.

Sri Lankan music lovers can expect to envelop in the divine music of the harp and the soothing voice of Erik which would certainly make this concert an extraordinary magical shared experience that would linger in the minds of the audience.

The Concert is organise by Sylvia Leela Isani and Satya Sabine Wilmsen on behalf of the Joy of Healing Germany. Speaking to the Sunday Observer, Sylvia Leela Isani said, "We have also organised a similar concert in Franfurt and got a tremendous response.

Erik Berglund's concert which will be held in Colombo, is his first performance in Asia. So it will be a special event and we hope that Sri Lankan audience will make use of this rare opportunity.

I believe in the self-healing power of the body and there are possibilities of activating this process through music, counselling etc. So then the body will always be in a balanced position.

This will be Erik's first visit to Sri Lanka and I hope that he would visit Sri Lanka again. He knew Sri Lanka through meditation and not through reading books. He is intuitively attracted to Sri Lanka." Erik performs all over the world, sharing his vision of world unity and harmony.

He has performed at healing retreats, conferences and workshops in places such as Machu Picu, the pyramids of Giza, Glastonbury, the Yucatan, Delphi, the Holy Land, the Great Barrior Reef, the Grand Tetons, the Venezuelan Andes, the Arizona deserts, the Hawaiian islands, St. John's Cathedral and the United Nations in New York City as well as his home in Mt. Shasta, California.

Erik Berglund is a unique recording artist who, like the troubadours of yore, combines his extraordinary musical talents with the spirit and power of God's healing gifts. Erik sings like an angel with a refined tenor voice accompanied by the crystalline sounds of his Irish harp.

He tours the world facilitating group energy in concerts, workshops, and thousands of private healing sessions. He leads tours to sacred sites and hosts gatherings near his home in Mt. Shasta California. His music is known for its angelic connection and his latest release is an album titled "Angel Paradise".

Erik will also conduct a healing session on March 10, 11 ,2007 at the Mount Lavinia Hotel. The tickets are available at Food City, Staple Street-Nawala, Mt. Lavinia and Barefoot Gallery. Further information from Isani and Wilmsen on 077-9948386 and e-mail: [email protected], www.joy-of-healing.net

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