entertainment

Spreading Sri Lankan vibes

Rukshani Perera and Anisha Kurukulasuriya

A colourful felicitation ceremony was held to welcome two young and enthusiastic youngsters of Sri Lankan origin belonging to the Sri Lanka Foundation in Los Angeles, California who were in Sri Lanka recently to have a first hand experience of the homeland of their parents.

This was their first visit to Sri Lanka considering the fact that they have in the past years associated with the Foundation and organised many Sri Lankan cultural events and conferences, to enlighten the world community and Americans in particular how different and wonderful is our culture, arts, crafts, food, business and traditions.

When the Sri Lanka Foundation organised the beauty pageants Miss Sri Lanka - America and Miss Teen Sri Lanka - America they entered for the contest and was surprised to be chosen from among the many contestants of Sri Lankan origin.

Rukshani Perera who was selected as the Miss Sri Lanka - America is in Business Management and confesses hadn’t worn the saree much until I entered for the contest.

In a turn around I started buying sarees and became enchanted with the whole idea. I threw myself into all the Sri Lankan social events drawing my American friends to experience Kandyan dancing, spicy food and appreciate the scenic beauty of Sri Lanka.

I’m also actively involved with the Cancer Society of American and every month I donate something to the children’s fund in Sri Lanka.

In fact I used to have long hair up to my knees and when I heard that the children needed to have braids of human hair I cut my hair short and donated it for the use of the children. I’m not a singer my mother was one in Sri Lanka and I hope to make a return visit,” reveals Rukshani.

Anisha Kurukulasuriya was chosen Miss Teen - Sri Lanka America and is looking forward to her medical academic career.

“I entered to learn more of Sri Lankan culture and music and influence my American friends who are steeped in the American pop culture. I’m glad my parents pushed me into it and my knowledge of the country has increased considerable. I cannot speak Sinhala properly but I understand it perfectly especially when my parents speak it at home.”

Both Rukshani and Anisha will be taken to the islands tourist spots as arranged by Roma de Zoysa the Public Relations Executive and Co-Producer of the Sri Lanka Foundation in Los Angeles.

“When we staged this pageant our aim was to create something new of a diverse ethnic and cultural heritage. We ruled out the Swimsuit Parade and instead chose the traditional Cloth and Jacket Parade. Of course the traditional saree or Kandyan was important and glamorous outfits of ethnic belonging to another country were not allowed. What we want to establish is the rich Sri Lankan heritage”, commented Roma de Zoysa.

M.P.

Pix by Kavindra Perera

‘A many splendoured thing’

By Mahes Perera

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Keeping dancing alive, based on creative fantasy themes is Naomi Rajaratnam who is putting the finishing touches to her current production With My Feet which this time is all about ‘Living Stones’. This extravaganza will go on the boards on August 23 and 24 at the Bishop’s College, Auditorium. Naomi has had extensive experience in dancing considering the fact that she has been teaching dancing from the time of Timmy Ingleton well-known in dance circles.

What is the source for your theme this time?

“I’ve based it an story from the Bible and the whole production has fifteen sections and each section will be different in dance styles.

The beautiful city of Gold is illuminated with the radiant light of the stones, and each dance item has its own story about the precious stones that make up the city of Gold.

The stones will be brought to life by twenty one dancers.”

For such an esoteric theme what will the music be like?

“The music will include classical, upbeat tunes, aboriginal and fusion. The dance items will be a combination of Ballroom, Latin American, Free Style, Hip Hop and Fusion.

The opening sequence is quite stunning danced to the aboriginal music mixed with Latin. For the fusion the music is Celine Dion’s ‘Your Eyes on Me’ choreographed by Gayan and the Ballroom section will be strict tempo music”.

The costumes and lighting will play a vital role in this production, who will be responsible in creating what you want projected?

“The costumes which will depict the glitter of the coloured stones are handled by Lon Ching Wong and will hold the audience in awe with his creations despite a financial strain we are experiencing. The lighting and sound is in the hands of Roshan and Event Production”.

The proceeds from the presentation will go towards the Dev Siri Sevana, a home for the elders at Mahabage, Welisara where admissions and care for the elders are free of charge irrespective of race and religion. Living Stones will take dance to new heights and make you feel you were part of ‘a many splendoured thing’.

Celebrating three golds

By Mahes Perera

To celebrate their three golds victory at Graz, Austria, the premiere Sri Lankan all female vocal ensemble Soul Sounds directed by Soundarie David will stage their concert on August 20 at the Lionel Wendt Theatr at 7.30 p.m. With two international tours, two prestigious competitions one festival, one international record, together with two local CDs the choir has achieved a lot in a short duration of just four years.

The three gold medals Soul Sounds won were in the open categories of Gospel & Spiritual, Popular Choral Music and Folklore categories. Sri Lankan audiences are bound to have a taste of what they experienced in Austria last month.

The choir will sing their winning songs which is going to be a treat for music lovers. To achieve a gold medal in the three categories is not an easy task.

Soundarie David being the only appointed Council Member at the World Choir Games Council explained that according to statistics, the category that draws the most number of entries is the folklore category, closely followed by other open categories.

Whilst the judges do indeed have certain standards to follow where makings are given on a Technical Evaluation, as well as an Artistic Evaluation, Soul Sounds scored high markings in both these criteria.

In fact their over all scores for all three categories were higher than some of the top scorers. They have currently been ranked 18 among the top 50 gospel and popular music choirs in the world.

In New Delhi when they performed after Austria Soul Sounds received a standing ovation and no doubt it will be the same on August 20.

Opera - as a fund-raiser

Based on the legend of Prometheus, an Olympian God who bequest humans provide the spark to ignite knowledge, Agni a blend of Eastern and Western music will be staged at Kandy on August 23. There will be two shows at 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on that day. Dr. Premasiri Khemadasa’s opera the libretto for which was written by Eric Illayapparachchi will be a fund-raiser for the 1st Kandy Dharmaraja Scout Group to help them to develop the Lake View Park International Scout Centre. This has been a long felt need to accommodate delegates from various countries who will be invited for the 95th anniversary celebrations of the Scout Group.

Kandy Lamissi in the spotlight

Mariazelle Gunathileke who made the song Kandy Lamissi into a major hit will be in the spotlight on August 30 at the Old Thomians’ Swimming Club. Mariazelle will sing a mix of Sinhala pop hits as well as catchy bailas, and popular Western oldies. She will be backed by Wild Flowers a three piece backing band led by Batison. The show will be compered by Brian Thomas.