It is said that it is one thing to dance with your feet and another to dance with your heart. And there is rare intensity when the dancer’s movements reflect the complex rhythms of the drum beat. It is this passion that brings a young dance troupe from Matara all the way to Colombo.
A gifted and resourceful eighteen-year-old, Jayani Akalanka is an A/level student at Mara Kokawala Madhya Maha Vidyalaya and presently head girl of her school. She realised her talent for dancing when she was little and having taken part in many competitions gained the confidence and recognition she needed to pursue her dream.
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| Jayani Akalanka: A gifted and resourceful eighteen-year-old |
Living in Matara she attended the Ruhuna Cultural Centre for two years and went on to the Malimada Cultural Centre where she learnt the finer techniques of dance. Numerous inter-school and all-island dance competitions saw her skills being recognized and encouraged.
In 2006 she founded the ‘Jayani Ranga Institution’ with 13 students with the aim of training and developing young people’s abilities in their hometown itself. Balancing the responsibilities of her personal work together with this creative venture she has formed her own dance troupe.
Today the 31 student- members all below the age of 18 hold annual dance recitals and have gained much recognition in Matara.
Greatly impressed watching these talented dancers perform, the Lions Club of Rathanapitiya was inspired to organize a dance festival for them in Colombo to showcase their skills. President of the Lions Club Rathanapitiya, B.A. Perera said that it was with the idea of giving these children the motivation and encouragement they needed to go far, that they have organized this event.
“The girls were so delighted when I told them about our plan to take them to Colombo for a performance that they shed tears of joy,” said Mr. Perera. “We want to give them an opportunity they have never got in their lives.”
This dance festival- ‘Jayani Ranga Prathiba’ will be held on December 8 at 6.30 p.m. at the John de Silva memorial theatre and presents a rare opportunity for Colombo audiences to see this talented young troupe on stage.
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