Today’s A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
will be presented
in Sinhalese and English,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Persian, Portuguese,
Russian, Slovenian,
Spanish and Thai.
Greetings,
graceful viewers, and
welcome to A Journey
through Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Today,
through interviews with
founder and president
Mrs. Rukmal Gunasekara
and members
of Sri Lanka
Youth Dance Troupe
based in Ottawa, Canada,
we will explore some
cultural values reflected
in Sri Lankan dance, and
see how traditional dance
helps promote
intercultural understanding.
In Sanskrit, Sri Lanka
means
“venerable island.”
Indeed,
like a sparkling gem in
the northern Indian Ocean,
this tropical island nation
enjoys beautiful landscapes,
delightful teas, herbs
and spices, and
well-preserved customs.
The Buddhist ritual dance
of Sri Lanka is
a unique tradition, started
during the 4th century BCE.
Through generations and
generations of evolution,
it is widely practiced today
in three major forms:
Udarata (Kandyan) dances,
which originated
in the up country
in Kandyan district;
Pahatharata dances,
which originated
in the low country; and
Sabaragamuwa dances,
which is a mixture of Udarata and Pahatharata dances.
In 1995, Mrs. Gunasekara
arrived in Canada
with the vision to form
an ethnic dance group
that she has
long contemplated.
In 1983,
when Sri Lanka’s image
was a negative image
that was coming
on the public media,
I was thinking
that there is another side
to Sri Lanka.
There is a beautiful culture
that is not portrayed.
I learned dancing when
I was in Sri Lanka and
I have performed there.
And this is one of
the most important factors
of our culture that needs
to be brought forward
to portray Sri Lanka,
its culture, and its people.
People are
very peace-loving.
And that’s what should
be given to the people
who don’t know much
about Sri Lanka.
Also, there is
an entire generation
of Sri Lankan American
or Sri Lankan Canadian
kids who are growing up.
They are Canadian citizens
but they also inherit
a very important culture
through their parents.
And that needs
to be given to them.
It is extremely important
that we do that.
And then the kids will
learn something about
their home countries.
And they will pass it on
to the next generation.
That’s how the dances
have gone for 3,000 years
in Sri Lanka.
The mother or the father
passed it on
to the next generation.
When forming
the Sri Lanka Youth
Dance Troupe in 1998,
Mrs. Gunasekara
paid detailed attention
to every aspect
to ensure the authenticity
of the performance.
The traditional costumes
are designed specifically
for the dance group
by Malathi Vidyapathi,
whose son is actually
one of the most premier
male dancers in Sri Lanka.
These are
traditional families, so
they have specific skills
in choreography.
The mother of this dancer
is so wonderful and skilled
in doing costume design.
She will create
one costume
and she will never repeat
that costume design again.
The music
is specifically composed
for this dance troupe,
so some of them
are not even performed
in Sri Lanka.
The choreography
is specifically designed
for us, so they become
unique dance items,
not only in Canada,
but also in Sri Lanka.
On the stage, it is
an enjoyable experience
for the young performers.
It’s really fun to perform
in front of an audience,
and wear
all those cool costumes.
I just love to dance.
We have the
Peacock Dance and then
we have the Snake Dance.
And our costumes
are really nice.
They are very colorful.
We have a head-piece,
and then we have
a lot of decorations on it.
They're really
colorful, vibrant,
and our dance form
is really unique.
Most of our dances, they
usually portray a story.
So, like the Snake Dance,
the way a snake moves.
Just things like that and it
shows a lot of our culture
through our dancing.
I have never come across
a single kid who has
joined my dance troupe
who has said
“I’m not interested”
and has moved away.
They are always
fascinated with the music,
the steps, and of course,
definitely they want to
wear the costumes
and put on makeup.
As one small one
came to me and said,
“The best part of this thing
is putting on makeup.”
During the interview,
we were amazed by the
diversity of the members
of the dance troupe,
particularly in terms
of age differences.
This is the first time,
actually I have even
pre-kindergarten, just
kids performing for me.
But I find them
to be even easier because
they seem to mimic
the older members and
picking up steps as they go.
And the older members
always help them along,
so either they coach them
or they take care of them.
So it’s one big family.
Then the little ones become
more secure and that
secureness is portrayed
on the stage always.
And whenever
I’m performing with them,
you just have
this really good feeling,
because, it’s just like,
you’re just around family.
When you are
nervous or something,
it’s just really nice to be
performing with family.
The warm family-like
atmosphere serves
to unite the diverse team.
Among the team members,
there are also
dedicated heroes whose
work behind the scene
is crucial
for the overall success
of the dance company.
That is Damithri Silva,
who created the website
for me.
It’s an outstanding design,
and I have compliments
coming from
all over the world
on this website.
Her father is Patrick Silva,
who does a lot
of my stage decorations.
Any time I have
a presentation, he does
the stage decorations.
And of course I cannot
forget all of my teachers
back in Sri Lanka
because unless we have
our teachers’ support
in every possible way,
it is not possible for us
to move forward.
What a caring and
appreciative tradition!
We will continue
our program
after these messages.
Please stay tuned
to Supreme Master
Television.
You can bring
a multicultural society
together with each other’s
understanding of culture.
And also, let them
be representatives
of the Sri Lankan culture.
Welcome back
to A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television
as we continue
our interview
with Mrs. Gunasekara,
founder and president
of the Sri Lanka
Youth Dance Troupe
in Ottawa, Canada.
Mrs. Gunasekara explains
some time-honored
cultural elements
associated with
the dancing tradition
that benefit
both the youngsters
and the society.
The Sri Lankan dance is
called “pure” dance which
is connected to rituals.
Those rituals come
both from Hinduism
and Buddhism.
For instance, before we
start a practice session
or before we start
the class, we perform
a very simple exercise
with which we ask
for the blessings of
the parents and teachers
and Goddess of Earth,
to keep our feet
on the ground.
And the concept
of parents and teachers
comes from Buddhism.
We always respect
our parents and teachers.
And for the dancers,
we think it is appropriate
that we ask
for the permission
of Goddess Earth.
A few years ago,
I had this very small group
of student members
getting on the stage.
And as I said, we always
have so much respect
towards the teachers,
but I didn’t expect
that much probably from
the smaller members.
And I remember,
I was just asking them
to get on to the stage.
The lead dancer
turned around and,
just did exactly as
a very experienced dancer
would do in Sri Lanka.
I was just amazed that
how did this little one
in just two years
learn this aspect
that before you could
get into that stage,
it’s extremely important
that you get that blessing.
Yes, it remained
in my memory.
And also I think it is
a very good indication
that if given
the proper circumstances
and guidance, they have
a tendency to go more
in the right direction.
Respect towards each other
is extremely important.
It is specifically important
when we live
in a multicultural society,
where people come
from all over the world,
with different customs,
with different traditions.
I find that people
are very fearful
of what they don’t know.
When you have
a neighbor who is
from a different country
whom you don’t know
anything about, you find,
“Oh, I don’t know what
they are doing.”
But if you really know
that some of
these traditions do have
some specific meaning
to that, then that
fear factor is taken off.
And you might find
something similar
in their own culture.
So dance and music
is very beautiful.
And anybody
will come to their feet
in appreciation of beauty.
Dance is very good to
break down these barriers.
Because if somebody sees
a beautiful Sri Lankan
dance, the next time
they meet somebody
from Sri Lanka,
“Oh, yes I saw
a nice Sri Lankan dance.”
And they get to talk
and they become friends.
Over the years,
the Sri Lanka
Youth Dance Troupe
has been invited
to perform at numerous
cultural occasions,
including with the
Canadian government.
We are becoming
wider and wider known,
especially among
the Federal Government
of Canada.
We have performed
for the Department
of Foreign Affairs,
the Department of Defense,
and we have
some other requests from
the Federal Government
as we go along.
So it is quite,
quite a wide audience.
The Sri Lanka Youth
Dance Troupe’s program
director and dancer
Ms. Ericka Ushliyanage
shares with us her
experience in interacting
with their audiences.
Being part of
a Sri Lankan dance group
is a great way for me
to learn about the culture,
to learn about
the traditions of Sri Lanka,
and it gives me a way to
express those traditions.
I feel that all the girls act
as cultural ambassadors
for Sri Lanka
because we’re spreading
something spiritual,
something traditional to
the Canadian community
that they wouldn’t
necessary get to see.
I think that it’s
a wonderful opportunity
for us to showcase
something beautiful and
cultural about Sri Lanka.
Sri Lanka
is a beautiful island,
full of beautiful people,
with such a rich
cultural tradition that
it’s really important to us,
as students
of the dance form,
to be able to showcase it,
and to showcase
what a wonderful country
we come from.
I think there are
numerous incidents,
following performances,
or we have people
coming up to us
and saying, “You know,
I’ve never seen anything
like that before.”
And I think that is
what makes it so worth it.
The enthusiastic responses
attest to the achievements
of Sri Lanka
Youth Dance Troupe.
Mrs. Gunasekara has
an even greater vision
for their work.
The Dance Troupe
from the very early days
has been linked
to the Odyssey Theatre
of Ottawa,
which Laurie Steven
is the artistic director.
She has been to Sri Lanka
and she fell in love
with the Kolam theater,
which belongs
to the low country form
of dance which is
the full mask theater form.
And for many years,
we have been trying
to incorporate
that theater form
into the Canadian theater
and the Odyssey Theatre
productions.
And we and Laurie Steven
of Odyssey Theater
really hope that we would
be able to come up with
the theater production
here in Canada.
And she hopes to take it
to Sri Lanka all the way.
And Sri Lanka
Youth Dance Troupe
will be a part of it.
Our sincere appreciation,
Mrs. Rukmal Gunasekara
and members
of the Sri Lanka Youth
Dance Troupe,
for sharing with us
your heartfelt story
of promoting
cultural exchange
with the traditional
folk dance of Sri Lanka.
Wishing you
ever greater success!
Gentle viewers, thank you
for joining us today
on A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Up next is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
May the caring people of
Sri Lanka and the world
be blessed with
peace and prosperity.
Gentle viewers, thank you
for joining us today
on A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms
on Supreme Master
Television.
Up next is
Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
May the caring people of
Sri Lanka and the world
be blessed with
peace and prosperity.
For more details
about the Sri Lanka
Youth Dance Troupe,
please visit