Imbuing the passion for dance in generations to come
More than 70 years ago, a young man with a burning passion for the dance blazed a visionary trail brooking no opposition in his quest to bring the country’s traditional dance from its ritualistic form to the stage. That man was Chitrasena.
He found a peerless partner in a young dancer whose fire matched his own. Vajira would shine not only on the local stage breaking the shackles that constrained female dancers but also with Chitrasena on the international platform as the Chitrasena and Vajira dance troupe toured the world receiving international acclaim.
The torch they lit was taken up by their daughters Anjalika and Upeka, the latter stamping her own vital presence on the stage as the company’s premier dancer. The third generation of the family still imbued with the passion for the dance is Heshma, Umi and Thaji.
Over the years, scores of young dancers have been trained in the disciplines set by Chitrasena, Vajira and Upeka, yet it is clear today the vision needs to be extended beyond the family and it is with this dream of sustaining the legacy that the Chitrasena Vajira Dance
Continuing the tradition: Upeka and Vajira and left, Thaji
Foundation is now seeking to find greater support for their aim of transforming the traditional dance of this country into a globally recognised classical dance form.
That vision was unveiled fittingly in the space where every day the young dancers of the Chitrasena Kalayatanaya are put through their paces. Last Thursday night at their Elvitigala Mawatha centre, they showed what this is all about. As the lights dimmed and the gokkala lamp was lit, under the intense scrutiny of Vajira, Upeka and Anjalika, the lead dancers and drummers of the company presented an absorbing show. If the sylphlike grace of Thaji had the audience stilled, the amazing vitality and skill of the male dancers and drummers had them enthralled.
Their aims are many pronged: to preserve the traditional dance forms and knowledge of the
Uplifting: The male dancers and drummers in full flight. Pix by Susantha Liyanawatte
traditional gurus; to innovate; to foster creativity and collaborations; to develop new talent; to professionalize traditional dance by making a career path in dance viable and sustainable and to refine methods of teaching and training. To this end, an Endowment Fund for the Dance has been launched and the goal is to reach Rs 200-250 million over the next five years.
It is no easy challenge but one that seeks to fulfil the aspirations of both body and soul. To create a place where dancers can live and breathe the dance, where they can stay and share and collaborate with other artistes and where there is also an archive where the dance is preserved and can be studied. To also provide scholarships, a living wage and funding for new work.
The presence of Chitrasena is always felt in the larger than life portrait that dominates the Kalayatanaya space. Surely he must be glad that his and Vajira’s life’s work is being taken to a new dimension and to embrace others like them with the fire in their veins to live the dance.
-R.S.