A tale told in water
If you happen to walk past the Visakha Vidyalaya swimming pool on a weekday after five, you will see all manner of interesting and sophisticated moves being practiced both in the water and out of it. There is a bit of everything – from ballet legs to running mans, and each move will be practiced over and over until it’s perfect. This unusually intense training session has been brought on by the team’s commitment to make sure that everything is just right for the upcoming synchronized swimming concert. Titled ‘Out Of The Woods’, the concert has been named after the popular Taylor Swift hit single of the same name, and the school plans to bring out their slick moves to a woody theme befitting the song. ‘Out of the woods’ is the fourth concert coach Rovini Illukkumbara has directed, she feels it has been organised on a grander scale than the previous three. ‘Applause’ – was the last concert the team performed in 2014.
Dancers
When given details about a synchronized swimming concert, one would expect only the synchronized swimming team to be taking part. However, Visakha Vidyalaya does things a bit differently. They have enlisted a group of dancers who were interested in taking part through the school’s Interact Club to make things more interesting. They have been attending practices alongside the synchronized swimming team in order to complement the act taking place in the water. The idea behind having dances in between the routines is that it will keep the entertainment going throughout the concert. Having organised skits to be performed in previous performances, the team soon realized that the interest of the crowd waned during the dramas. This was when they decided to bring in dancers to perform outside the water while the team switched routines. “What we began to realise is that people didn’t want to watch the skits in the concert. They wanted the entire performance to be exciting. This made us change the skits into dance performances so that we keep the festival atmosphere going,”says Rovini.
A combination of swimming and ballet- synchronized swimming is no mean feat. To perform in a concert, these girls must be adept at holding their breath upside down, under water while counting down the seconds in their head at the same pace as everyone else! It is this exact nature of the sport that excites the team. “I feel that there is no other sport which is as beautiful to watch as synchronized swimming because this is the only sport which can be called an art form” says Captain Bulani Perera. She says that diligent practice is the reason the team is confident of their success in this demanding field. In order to get the moves just right, Rovini drills the girls repeatedly with a special focus on the timing. Although many international synchronized swimmers are accustomed to underwater music, the technology is relatively unused in Sri Lanka and she feels that it’s better that way – at least during training. “If it comes together without it, it definitely comes together with it” she says, explaining her decision to ensure that the girls are accustomed to performing without underwater music even though the school hopes to get the technology for the concert.
Pic by Nilan Maligaspe
A former captain of the Visakha Vidyalaya synchronized swimming team herself, Rovini is no stranger to the gruelling schedule required to perform. She has represented Sri Lanka in synchronized swimming competitions abroad. It’s clear that everyone in the team shares her passion for the sport. Ruvee Perera, 12, feels that she and her team mates willingly commit to the schedule because they sincerely enjoy what they do. “You can learn a lot from synchronized swimming, and best of all – you get to dance,” she says.
The excitement at practice is palpable. Kehuli Krishnarajah, 10, feels that her captain, vice-captain and coach have worked really hard to support even younger teammates like her take on big roles, which is why she feels that this is their opportunity to make them proud. “Each and every one is really good and that’s why we are sure to do well,” adds Vice-Captain Sathinji Senanayake. The dancers also agree with this assessment. “We give our best every time we do a concert and that’s why this performance is going to be amazing” says Amavi Sooriyabandara, who is part of the dance routine. Directed by Nithila De Silva and Tharushi Gunawardena, the dance team in place is equally excited in taking part in the concert as the synchronized swimmers themselves, and it’s evident that every member of the team is committed to setting the bar even higher this time around.
Synchronized swimming team
‘Out of the Woods’ will take place from May 27-29 from 6.30 p.m. onwards at the Visakha Vidyalaya Swimming Pool Complex. Tickets are priced at Rs. 750, 1,000 and 1,500, and are available at the Swimming Pool Complex.