Arts
Captivating ballet of an epic battle
It was a big weekend for the Sinhala Literary Society of Holy Family Convent Bambalapitya. Their traditional ballet, ‘Ravana Hatana’ went on the boards at the school auditorium, pulling in crowds despite the heavy showers. Their dazzling show kept the packed house captivated from scene 1.
Pix by Indika Handuwala
Ravana Hatana wasn’t what we would call a typical oriental ballet, lacking the customary chorus offering a running narrative.
Accompanied by just a strong backing track, theirs was a modern take on traditional dance-drama.
Words however would have been wasted had they been employed to tell the tale unravelling on stage. Showing a deep appreciation for the roles they were playing, the main cast’s understanding of the characters made for an engaging viewing experience.
Dimming the saintly aura generally associated with protagonist of the Ramayana, this production’s story was based on the Sri Lankan King, Ravana.
Celebrated as an unfortunate hero, avenging his sister’s death and paying for it with his life shone a different light on the long-demonised character.
The tension built up dramatically through the scenes as Rama, his brother Lakshmana and Ravana’s clan erupted into a meticulously choreographed chaos which was a flurry of vibrant colours.
The dancers shone in a production that had ornate costumes and dramatic stage lighting and we had to occasionally remind ourselves that this was in fact a school production.
Veteran director Pabalu Wijegoonawardane’s touch was evident in the show and the young cast rose memorably to the occasion.
