“To be a choreograpgher you need to have creativity, it’s not just about teaching steps.” Said veteran choreographer Muddrika Swarnathilake, speaking passionately about her love for the profession. She certainly has what it takes to make it big in the industry, having sussccesfully launched her own studio, Muddrika Dance Studio, from a small time dance group to one of the most sought after entertainment troupes.

Muddrika is highly qualified in her profession having pursued her higher studies in film making and choreography for movies at AAFT (Asian Academy of Film & Television) in Delhi, India; and later obtaining her specialization from the New York Film Academy, NY, USA. Since her return to the island, within a short space of time this gifted dancer/choreographer has contributed her skills in several movie songs, television productions, commercials, concerts and events such as fashion Shows and music videos. She is also a director of music videos.

 

 

Her love for dance began at an early age, when she was just fours years old in fact, “I’ve been dancing since I was a child and I knew I definitely wanted to be a choreograpgher by the time I was 13 years old, but at the time there was no space in Sri Lanka for choreograpghy. Only recently within the last five years has it been more accepted.”  A highyl skilled dancer, she has trained in many dance froms such as contemporary ballet, Baratha Natyam and traditional Kandyan dance to name a few.

Although she has been invovled in numerous undertakings on the small screen and stage, along with a stint as judge in such dance competitions as Derana Little Stars season 1, Derana City of Dance season 2 and Tantalize Talent Show 2012; it’s her Dance studio that holds most of her attention.

According to Muddrika, the studio came about quite by accident when a friend asked her to handle an event with a Las Vegas themed dance. “With just six dancers we pulled that off quite well and soon I received more requests. Now, after officially setting up the studio in 2010, i have around twenty dancers in the troupe and I’m blessed to have such the best dancers.”

Initially, she handled all the choreograpghy for the studio but now has hadnpicked senior dancers from the troupe to teach as well, so they now come up with concepts as a collective for each act.

 

 

“Most events have themes, so we need at least three to four practice sessions to prepare, we do get blasted sometimes for our costumes which we do try to tone done but I tell people dancing is not about showing skin, but to show good dancing and technique with the best of our abilities. I admit even we’re not experts in certain styles but we are constantly learning, I can confidantly say our group has the best hip-hop dancers in Sri Lanka,” explained Muddrika.

While the dance studio is aimed at those who have a dance career in mind, it does include social dancing classes in its schedule for those over the age of 12 who would just like to dance for fun.

 

 

Having gained international experience related to film making and music video directing, Muddrika does admit her ultimate dream would be to direct her own films one day, but as that would mean having to move abroad, she’s holding off on the idea for now citing that if nothing major happens with regards to the dance studio, she would love to travel abroad and leave the studio in the hands of her more than capable senior troupe members.  

Till then however, eager to spread her love of dance and give back to the community, Muddrika has begun plans on a dance workshop series targeted at international schools. “We’d select the best students from each school for the series and then take the best from that group and give them free classes for another month. We’d teach them the basics and techniques; and hopefully help to do something major if they choose to make a career out of it. It’s a new concept so we’re not sure how it will go. Dance is a therapeutic and beautiful and I really want to open the public’s eyes to that. I hope to bring down the best dance gurus for the workshop as I believe the dance community should come together for this.”

The studio will be contacting schools mainly in Colombo and Negombo but are considering reaching out to Kandy and Galle if they get good response from the cities.

 

To find out more about classes at the studio visit: www.facebook.com/muddrikadancestudio

 

 

By Lake Argent

Pics by Indraratne Balasuriya