Epic Black, the latest production by Naomi Rajaratnam’s dance house, ‘With My Feet,’ took the stage at the Bishop’s College Auditorium from August 9th to 11th, 2024. The show, dedicated to the late Trevor Rajaratnam, showcased a variety of dance styles, all tied together by a theme that explored the journey from darkness to light.

This year’s production stood out with its unique “all-black” theme, contrasted by bursts of colour that enhanced the visual storytelling. The show featured a mix of dance forms, including Latin American and Fusion, presented in a way that aimed to capture the complexities of life’s journey. Naomi Rajaratnam, reflecting on the experience of seeing the show come together, said, “I do get a little surprised each time because I know what it’s going to look like, but then to see it in reality is  a different thing.”

The performances were as varied as they were impactful, each one bringing a different element of the theme to life. The choreography ranged from fast-paced, high-energy routines to slower, more contemplative pieces. The music played a crucial role in this, with each piece carefully chosen to match the tone and emotion of the performance. From Latin rhythms that added spice to the more lively dances, to classical and modern tracks that underscored the more poignant moments, the soundtrack was integral to the show’s narrative flow.

One of the standout performances of the evening featured Naomi’s signature lifts, a choreography that holds personal significance for her. “My favourite and signature one is the one with the lifts. Because I am actually a ballet dancer, from the age of 5 I was trained in classical ballet, and it was only later that I started Latin and Ballroom,” she shared. 

Guest performances from internationally acclaimed dancers like Gunnar Gunnarrson, Manuja Hughes, Roman Sukhomlyn, and Jackie Stevenson brought an additional level of skill and energy to the production. Their expertise in various dance styles, from Ballroom to Latin, was evident, and their presence added a global flair to the show. A particularly impactful segment of the evening was performed without any accompanying video or props.

The dancers, dressed in white, conveyed a powerful message through their movements alone, relying on the choreography and their expressions to communicate with the audience. The show ended off with a heartfelt tribute by the dancers who dedicated their last performance to the late legendary Trevor Rajaratnam, who had been a pillar of strength behind ‘With My Feet’ for many years. Epic Black was more than just a dance show; it was an exploration of themes through movement, with each performance contributing to the overall narrative. The production reflected the dedication of everyone involved, making it a memorable event for those in attendance.

POORNIMA RANASINGHE - “We have been coming for this show for many years. I think this is probably my third time, so hopefully (I am) planning to come if they have it next year, it’s always been a pleasure coming and watching these people dancing. I wish all them the very best”.

SURANGA PERERA - “The performance was really nice, the choreography, the costumes, the music, and the song selections were really awesome. We had a really good time and might even join the dancing classes!”.

CHAMIKA PERERA - “One of the best I’ve seen. This (performance) is international class I would say, especially Manuja did a good job -so I’m very happy about this and I’m happy to be here. Glad I didn’t miss it”.

ROCHELLE LIYANAGE - “It was really choreographed well and the dancers were superb and I think they’ve trained for a long time so it showed on stage. It was absolutely epic!”.

ANDREENE BALTHAZAAR - “The dancers were amazing, the costumes were really lovely and it was truly an epic black kind of night, so it was great!”.

BY NIMAYA NANAYAKKARA