Evening of dance and song
On September 23 and 24 the Senior Prefects’ Guild of Holy Family Convent (HFC) Bambalapitiya will proudly stage “Night at the movies – from the silver screen and beyond” at the school auditorium from 6.30pm onwards.
The show will herald a selection of old and new classic musical scores from the silver screen. The evening will feature music, dance and aspects of theatre.
Speaking to choreographer and founding member of the female ensemble ‘Soul Sounds’, Roshni Gunaratne having left school in 2003, she identifies herself as a “late bloomer” in regards to the arts having started professionally dancing at 15.
Roshni has competed professionally in dance both locally and internationally under the tutelage of Kevin Nugara where she danced Latin and ballroom and contemporary dance which she studied under Umeshi Rajeendra. Throughout the years whilst “broadening her horizons in dance” she shares her previous work experience choreographing the dances for “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” – a musical, directed by Jehan Bastians and Neidra Williams,while not ignoring her previous work with Jerome De Silva and The Workshop Players.
Roshni who has the crucial role of adapting dances to the musical scores believes that this production will differ in terms of the directorial approaches taken. “There are no passengers here,” Roshni says adding that she has instilled in her girls professionalism and self discipline on holding their own. The cast comprising 150-students aged 11 to 18 years have gone through an arduous training regiment for two months and Roshni is intent on giving everyone who participates a chance to shine.
“Night at the Movies” will feature a healthy balance of core singers and dancers among the ensemble. The show is aimed at highlighting the talents of these young performers and teaching them “not to limit themselves,” Roshni says while adding that “we’re grooming these girls to be performers”. The choreographer, who is ever ready for a challenge, is experimenting with a range of styles from Latin, Ballet, Contemporary even touching on African dances.
Veteran music director of the female ensemble ‘Soul Sounds,’ Soundarie David Rodrigo an HFC old girl herself will head the musical direction of the production. The production will feature well known songs from across the decades handpicked by Soundarie and Roshni with help from the students.
Much like most of Soundarie’s work the show will be filled with original arrangements some tweaked in ways that will be a first for Sri Lankan audiences. “There’s a little bit of something for everyone,” the music director reveals. The scores performed at the show will cover songs from late as the 1960’s to the very current from this year. Classics such as “Moon River” from Audrey Hepburn’s “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961) to a medley of songs from the dramatic James Bond legacy (1960 – 2015), “City of Stars” from the Oscar winning film “La La Land” (2016) and even touching on songs from the Disney franchise.
Soundarie hopes that the audience can truly appreciate the “freshness of the young voices”. In their days as students at HFC, Soundarie and Roshni are filled with nostalgia entering the gates of their alma mater. Soundarie believes the arts are pivotal subjects for students as it helps with “confidence building, team management and also develops personality”.
Speaking on behalf of the 2017 Senior Prefects’ guild, organizers for “Night at the Movies” is Trisha Dias (Head Prefect), Seshanthi Ranasighe (Deputy Head Prefect), Luchini Dawatage (Games Captain) and Nimshi Fernando (Vice Games Captain). The four girls all of whom are 18 years old, have grown up together excelling in versatile academic and extracurricular activities.
Members of the cast . Pix by Indika Handuwala
This year marks almost 5 to 6 years since the Prefect’s Guild hosted a public show of this magnitude their last production being “Spectra”. Nimshi shares that the Guild strategically separated various organizing committees in order to ensure that the show goes off without a glitch “the teachers in charge have also been supportive advisors” she adds.
The last English production directed was “You’ve got it Pussycat” by Jith Pieris in 2014. This year’s “Night at the Movies” Trisha smiles “Is a bit of everything together” touching on dance, music and enhancing the effects of dramatic flair of theater.
Over the past two months silent supporters of the production at practices include the teachers in charge Ms. Sherika Fernando and Ms. Chamila Perera. Sherika remarks that this large scale production will resonate in the hearts of its audience, “[movies] are something familiar audiences can associate with as it is somehow a lot of people grew up watching or listening t.” Chamila echoes that not only will the audience gain from watching a production of this quality but the students are also being exposed to a more practical learning environment away from the humdrum of a classroom. how.
The show is supported in musical direction also by Soul Sounds senior member Dinushka Jayawickrama with the production being handled by Javeen Thomas. Musical backing by Soundarie David Rodrigo (Music Director) on the piano, Dhanushka Seneviratne on keyboard, Shane John on drums, sound enhancement by Kishan and Unique Sounds and costumes by Colombo’s well known seamstress JoJo.
Come join the musical ensemble of Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya on September 23 and 24 as they proudly present “Night at the movies – from the silver screen and beyond” at the school auditorium from 6. 30 pm onwards. Tickets are priced at Rs. 750 (Balcony), Rs 1000, Rs.1500 and Rs.2000. Box plan available at the Retreat Road School gate from 8 am to 1.30 pm.
Deputy Head Prefect - Seshanthi Ranasinghe
Roshni Gunaratne
Soundarie David Rodrigo
Head Prefect - Trisha Dias