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| Saturday, 11 January 2003 |
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Classical ballet with Sri Lankan tradition Thala at Lionel Wendt (10th - 12th January 2003)
Thala is a wonderful blend of something old, something new, diversity and fusion. Thala, in fact, is a programme featuring a fusion of dance styles that has become somewhat of a hallmark of the festival's organisers - Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation (Pvt) Ltd. The organisers' first wish is to showcase the versatility of dance ad the second is to allow the people to experience professional dance. All the while the Performing Arts foundation seeks to give audiences options beyond just recent trends of modern dance and allow them access to the more modern classical mix. This allows the audience to see a unique and revolutionary dance style - 'a skilful fusion of classical ballet with cultured Sri Lankan traditional movements. The music accompanying the dancers is also specially created by a fusion of Kandyan drums and contemporary Jazz. Both dance and music are skilfully choreographed together to optimise the enjoyment of the audiences. Channa and Upuli Wijewardena are partners in the foundation bearing their name, the Channa-Upuli Performing Arts Foundation (Pvt) Ltd., They credit their success and their popularity to their Gurus Dr. Panibharatha and Dr. Chitrasena.
The Wijewardenas have performed for Sai Baba and HRH the Prince of Wales as well as having performed to crowds in the UK at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in South Bank, and also Canada and the US. They have also performed at the International Wesak Celebrations at White Field, Bangalore. They are a couple that has done much to bolster Sri Lanka's international image through dance. ************************** Bolshoi ballet troupe performs this weekend by Therese Douglas Ballet is simply bewitching and can always attract attention, especially when it comes from professional performers from the Bolshoi Ballet troupe from Russia. The Russian Centre in Colombo in association with Gwen Herat will present the Bolshoi Ballet troupe in Colombo from January 11-16. In this regard a press conference was held at the Trans Asia Hotel in Colombo on Wednesday. "The motive behind this ballet is that it is the first step forward in establishing a ballet foundation in Sri Lanka. Russia is enveloped with classical and performing arts. Further the Bolshoi Ballet troupe is a highly recognised institute that can keep the audience in rapt attention. Therefore, the choice of this troupe here", said Gwen Herat, speaking to the press. She also said that the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe is an ardent lover of classical ballet and has taken an interest in this venture. The coincidence of the Bolshoi ballet troupe being here is in memory of its founder Rudolf Nureyev who's tenth death anniversary falls this month. His memorium the troupe will perform excerpts - We hope the state comes forward to establish a bond of cultural ties and values between Sri Lanka and Russia, she said. Speaking in Russian choreographer a dancer/ballet sensation Irina Lazariyeva said that during their stay here in addition to their performances they will also have a workshop to enhance the basic of ballet which will lead some day to professionalism to interested Lankans. Her dialect was translated to the press by Dr. Gamini Ilangakoon. We love Sri Lankan attitudes and cultures and wish to further our bonds of friendship, she said. The Bolshoi Ballet troupe is a much acclaimed institute and has always emerged winners in whatever ballet competition it has participated in. The troupe consists Russia's most famous ballet dancers, who are trained since the age of 8 and nine. And ballet dancing is a natural characteristic for the majority of Russian nationals. The Bolshoi troupe as a matter of fact combine tradition and innovation in every single step they make, hence the troupe always wins high acclaim both in its homesoil as well as internationally. The media sponsors of the event is Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd. |
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Produced by Lake House |
Fusing diverse cultural performing arts into a new, cohesive dance
style Colombo, January 3, 2003 If you are a lover of culture and/or dance
or just want to spend a pleasant evening doing something unique, try Thala
- the Festival of Dance - at 7 pm on the 10th, 11th, 12th January 2003 at
the Lionel Went theatre (Colombo 7).
Their art has been positively received by many distinguished and
learned people as well as being accepted all over the world.
