Stones symbolised through dance? This is the novel theme that will be brought to life when Naomi Rajaratnam’s ‘With My Feet’ brings to you, ‘Living Stones’.
And what you will see is how precious stones and metals will be depicted through dance and classical and modern music. “The dances will be about jewels,” said Naomi, adding, they will depict gold, pearl, diamond and 12 other stones.
Putting such a show together is no easy task, says Naomi talking about her 21 dancers who, she says, have varied styles from ballroom to Latin to Kandyan dancing and hip hop and thus needed to, in some cases, learn different styles.
The concert will start off with a dance symbolising Gold where it would “depict the rays of the sun and how they run through the earth and bring to the earth what’s precious within.” This will be danced to the beat of aboriginal music and also to the song, “Hip Hip Chin Chin”, a modern Latin number.
The emerald and ruby will be brought to life through the Paso Doblé, which depicts love, betrayal and death through a Spanish bullfight in which the lady is the cape. Here the matador is in red, the soldier in green and the girl with a costume of red and green – depicting a love triangle.
The Sard – Onyx is a stone which moves from red to white and then to black which will be depicted through a Hip Hop dance where there will be two groups of five dancing.
Celine Dion’s “Eyes On Me” provides the music for a fusion dance where the stone will be the pastel shaded Beryl gemstone. The other stones include the cameo – used as a seal or a brooch with a face on it. The blue sapphire will depict the waters of the Indian Ocean and the pearl of the Indian Ocean. The diamond and the solitaire will also be featured and the amethyst brought to life through the Viennese Waltz.
The colourful costumes to showcase these glittering stones and metals are designed by Lou Ching Wong.
“A lot of people thought I was crazy to do this,” says Naomi, reflecting on the prevailing situation in the country. “I don’t want anyone to think I’m being frivolous but you need to shine a light,” she says earnestly. Senior dancer Manuja Siriwardena-Jurie who lives in England and is the vice principal of a primary school there is back for the show.
“I’m on my summer break and I’ve left my husband for two months to be here for the show!I think it’s absolutely fabulous,” she enthused. Manuja went on to explain how, “all the dancers are so varied and individual.”
She went on reminisce how she would tell her teacher “Aunty, if you are ever doing a show, I’ll be here – and I did come.”
“The dancers’ backgrounds, cultures, levels of commitment and responsibility are different,” she said, adding, “it’s difficult and it is a challenge but you can do it well and still have fun.” Manuja will be dancing in seven out of the 15 items!
“Aunty Naomi is an amazingly creative person and she has a vast background and knowledge in dance, theatre and music. There’s nothing that we can do that she can do 10 times better than us,” she added, paying tribute to her teacher.
Living Stones,’ will go on the boards at the Bishop’s College auditorium on August 23 and 24 at 7 p.m. Tickets will be available at the auditorium and the concert will be sponsored by Nations Trust Bank, Taru Villas and East West Marketing. The sound will be handled by Event Productions. | 
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