Dancing for the movies

The lack of dancing segments in our films is a huge drawback, says Bharatha natyam artiste Rangana Ariyadasa.“Take Indian cinema for example, in each segment they have a dance item. In films like Devdas and Veersara, the dance items are elaborate and the dancers’ performance, their costumes and their presentation is amazing. For a film to become a blockbuster, this element is important,” she says.

Rangana, the daughter of veteran Bharatha natyam performer Padmini Dahanayake who was the first Sinhalese to gain a diploma in Bharatha natyam in Sri Lanka, entered the local dance scene at the age of four and half. A student of Musaeus College, Rangana, went on to Kalakshetra - College of Fine Arts in India where she followed a five-year course in classical Bharatha natyam. She also trained in the nattuvangam- a key instrument played by the guru in a classical Bharatha natyam recital, which, according to Rangana, is a ‘must’ for every Bharatha natyam dancer.

Rangana’s next venture is to get into movies, as a choreographer. “I want to get a few students; both girls and boys and train them so that whenever a film director requires background dancers, this group can be provided,” she says.

Rangana says her focus in training the students would be on the classical side. “I will be doing it in a dignified manner so that it will both capture the audience while not having a negative impact on the dance tradition. My main focus will be Bharatha natyam, but my knowledge of Kandyan dancing and Kathak too will be utilized,” she said.

“Height wise, the students should be 5 5”- 5 6” and they should be within the age group of 20-26,” she says adding that she will also focus on training actors and actresses.

The great grand-daughter of former Prime Minister W. Dahanayake, Rangana has been among the panel of judges for the Star in a Minute programme which is currently running on Derana and also been a member of the panel of judges for the Rajata Rahsmi programme on Rupavahini. She runs her own dancing school Shri Padma Ranga at her home in Kadawatha .