In an era where traditional cultural items are gradually wearing away, attempts to preserve and transform them to future generations are truly praiseworthy. The presentation of MAATHRA Eight, bringing different forms of Sri Lankan dances on one stage was an unprecedented cultural show by the Lyceum International School network. MAATHRA was staged for the eight consecutive year, at the BMICH last week. The concert started with Kolam Maduwa, an age old traditional folk play pleasing the audience with enormous humour. The show then followed by a series of twelve fascinating dances featuring upcountry and low country forms.
They were named as;
i. Thelme - A type of low country devil dance performed at Devol Maduwa.
ii. Karagam - A Tamil folk dance with musical accompaniment.
iii. Bummadi - A kind of play using pottery drum with music for communication.
iv. Chalana - A presentation of a dancer’s preparatory bodily exercises prior to dancing in a dramatic form.
v. Illama - Presented the hard life of gem mining and their smiling faces when they get precious gems in the deepest mine.
vi. Abinikmana - Great renunciation of Prince Siddhartha.
vii. Sri Namaya - Before going to the war front and after winning the war, the king spends time with his queens for some time. The dance represented this traditional custom.
viii. Gandabba - A dramatic presentation of interim birth.
ix. Frog hunt - Innocent animals living in the jungle become the prey for large animals.
xi. Redi Nenda - A presentation of the role of washing women in the society.
xii. Kathakali - A popular type of dancing in the Kerala Province, South India.
xiii Sigiri - A dance representing the Sigiri women - king Kasyapa’s queens in their elegance.
All these dances showcased the outstanding skills of Lyceum students at Nugegoda, Wattala, Gampaha, Panadura, Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya. It is an extremely rare occasion to see over 450 Lyceum children of varying ages performing in great harmony. The spellbinding performance of students attired in brilliant and colourful costumes exhibiting vigorous moments with drum beats as well as delicate moments rhyming with music and songs captivated the audience from beginning to end.
Mixing traditions with modern ideas in some items displayed the innovativeness of the dance teachers. It was an untiring effort of the dancing teachers belonging to the Lyceum network, including the Chief Coordinator at Lyceum Nugegoda - Mr. Rasika Kothalawala and Nisha Kothalawala under the able guidance of Mrs. Kumari Grero.
The concert is a combined attempt of the Parent school, Nugegoda and branch schools. Mr.Mohan Lal Grero, Founder of the Lyceum school and the State Minister of University Education, Mrs. Kumari Grero, Coordinating Principal - Mr.Nikitha Grero, Director - Ms. Buddhika Pathiraja, Deputy Coordinating Principal - Ms. Wenuri Hettiarachchi, Principal of Lyceum Nugegoda and thousands of spectators gathered at the BMICH and enjoyed the show.
Photographs by Vihanga Kariyawasam
0 Comments