If you googled dancers or dancing academies in Sri Lanka, I’m sure you will get heaps of search results. Thanks to various dance academies, TV shows, change in culture - the dance industry in Sri Lanka is on the rise. But from everyone who is out there, it is hard to find someone who is well educated in their field. Muddrika is one of the rare few who is well educated and trained in the field.
This beautiful lady is also a choreographer, which is also a rare talent in Sri Lanka. We met her for an up-close and personal chat.
1/.From a rating of 1 to 10 (1 being best, 10 being worst) how would you rate yourself and why?
Maybe 5. Not that I’m underrating or overrating. It's just that I consider myself an average person. I don’t think I am the best and also don’t think I belong to the worst.
2/. Are professionals in your field usually strict and arrogant? What’s your view?
A choreographer's job includes endless responsibilities other than choreography, starting from maintaining and running a dance troupe to creating the most creative work of art in terms of dance, costumes and music to go with. So you need to know what you are doing well enough to lead the bunch of talented team members working with you. You need to know your limits, you need to look after and take care of your team, and you need to survive with the right amount of work. So being strict and disciplined is a part of being professional. About arrogance, I cannot talk for others but people judge you very harshly in this industry. Sometimes minding your own business and being reserved can be interpreted as arrogance. As long as you do your part of the job well and don't disturb others’ work it doesn't matter actually.
3/. Is the dance field in Sri Lanka in a position to challenge the industry in India?
When it comes to our pure traditional dance styles and folk dance styles, yes we of course we can challenge the Indian industry in the same department. Because Sri Lankan traditional cultural and folk dance styles do have their individual unique rich identity as much as the Indian industry.
But if we take the dance field as a whole, then India is more open to the world. The Indian dance field is armed with many talented and skilful performers in all local and international styles. Their approach in choreography is more advanced than us. The way they blend local and international styles together is just amazing. What we lack the most is the platforms or streams to come out as a great talented dancer in our industry. The second thing we lack would be the value given to the art and to the artist to survive; India is way ahead of us in that area.
The Indian industry is full of dedicated mind-blowingly talented dancers with driving personalities and unconditional thirst for knowledge in terms of dance. It's beyond imagination and we are yet to reach that level of quality and it is not impossible. It’s just that we need so much more support from our surroundings.
4/. What are the main issues you face in your industry?
To take a step forward to save the dance industry we need to save the dancers. We need to make them dance as professionals rather than let them do it as a temporary option to earn a quick buck or just as a hobby. Because it still is a huge struggle to get a decent amount for a gig. If they are paid well only can they give more time and feel safe being dancers. Only that makes them push and improve to the next level. Financial stability is one main reason for us to be driven and be the best in whatever stream we are in.
Sadly in Sri Lanka, we have very less dancers who perform for their own passion.. it is a fact when one struggles and somehow raises the bar, the next one should raise it higher. But what happens is the one coming next pulls it lower just to get the work without thinking of the industry as a whole. Also to raise the bar you should deliver quality, but what we always see is quantity over quality and unfortunately not the other way around.
5/. What’s your plan for the future?
MDS needs to come out with much bigger and better creative work with our team of amazing choreographers and the most talented bunch of dancers. The most important plan is to financially secure the future of each member of the team. Secondly with the talent around the world, our knowledge is not enough to compete. Therefore I wish to continuously learn and research about different styles of dance out there. The wish is to be more current and to be more creative with each creative mission along with my team.
6/. As a newcomer in your field, please share your secrets for perfection and sustainability?
Patience.... can't survive in this industry without this ingredient.
Treating each project with passion and equal care is so important for sustainability.
Interview & pics by Jayantha Fernando
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0 Comments
wow says:
Jul 12, 2013 at 12:00 amWOW super HOT lady
nicky karunarathna says:
Jul 12, 2013 at 12:00 amDancing is an art or sport? So how would one call dancers - sportsman/woman or artist. As we know all artists and sportsman/women are entertainers -but still Western cultures do not see dancers aesthetic side. Dilemma? Yeah somewhat as human eye's puzzling angles.
ChethiYa EkanaYake says:
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:00 amnice......................