Friday, July 21, 2006

THE ART OF CHITRASENA - MEMORIAL PERFORMANCE & EXHIBITION

"Elevating Sri Lanka's performing
art traditions to stage acclaims...
Presenting our talents in the world arena...
And raising a proud generation of performers...
Guru we remember your footsteps..."


THE ART OF CHITRASENA

MEMORIAL PERFORMANCE AND EXHIBITION

21st - 23rd JULY 2006
AT THE LIONEL WENDT THEATRE
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CHITRASENA - THE GRAND MASTER


Monday, July 17, 2006

THE ART OF CHITRASENA - BY DR. RADHIKA COOMARASWAMY

TW NEWS
Thursday, 16th March 2006


I remember the first time I saw Chitrasena and Vajira dance. I was a student in a western capital and came with my friends to see this wonder from Sri Lanka. When the performance was over I was filled with so much exhilaration and a powerful sense of delight. When I look back at that moment of exhilaration, I sometimes wonder why I was filled with so much joy- what were the elements that went into that moment.

Firstly- there was strong sense of national pride. Today national pride is somewhat complicated. Today, I believe that both Sinhala and Tamil nationalism have become self destructive. Some may also wonder what is national pride when the nation itself is contested and there is so much hatred, bigotry and intolerance on all sides. But those were the days of innocence, and national pride was a simple thing, the joy in seeing the land where you were born and the people that you most identify with producing such talent, such creativity. I recall that moment of national pride with a terrible sense of nostalgia.

The second reason for my exhilaration was the recognition of sheer genius. These were not dancers going through a routine and doing their steps. These were inspired artists. When I see Upekha dance even today, I see that genius:-. the love of music, bodies immersed in the rhythm, the confidant mastery of body movements, the commitment to excellence and a passion for their art form. When they danced everyone reveled in that moment of artistic perfection. These were moments of transcendence, a divine gift to an inspired couple...

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"MOVING AND INSPIRING" - A REVIEW OF A PAST PERFORMANCE

SUNDAY OBSERVER
Sunday, 5th February 2006


"They danced and they danced and they danced"- Upekha, Ravibandhu, Anjalika, Janaki, Umi, Thaji and cast with Vajira herself making a cameo appearance.

They danced to immortalize the words of their Guru, Husband, Father, Grandfather...Chitrasena, who when asked by a friend what he would say of his life on earth, when posed the question at the pearly gates ,said " I will say I danced and I danced and I danced". They did him proud that day, his pupils and his family. The performance was conceived and directed by grand daughter Heshma as a birthday tribute to the legend that is Chitrasena...

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Thursday, July 13, 2006

FINDING ONE'S SELF

Today’s younger generations are so taken up by western culture and trends that our own traditions sometimes take a backseat. Oddly enough, western society is in awe of OUR traditions! Enthusiasts of eastern culture and arts flock to Asia from all over the world to delight in those very things our increasingly modern city folk forget to appreciate. Young people experience so much confusion about who they are and “finding their true selves” and all that, yet perhaps this is the question they need to be asking themselves: are we losing touch with the heritage that makes us who we are? Perhaps if we appreciate our traditional arts more we can feel more enriched by our culture and consequently more fulfilled in our search for ourselves?

~ Pumi

IMAGERY & ARTISTRY