Daye Charika

Introduction

Team

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Daye Charika - Introduction

Glimpse of Sri Lanka

Date 5th July 2003

Place Victoria University Memorial Theatre

India, the cradle of Eastern civilization, leads to many mythical origins of sub civilizations in the region. In the North East of India there lies a beautiful state called ‘Bangali’. A beautiful princess marries the majestic Lion tribe leader and their children (SinhaBahu and SinhaSeevali) start a new kingdom of the Lions. (The actual story says its a lion in the jungle who marries Supriya the princess of Wanga desh)

A tiny island in the Southern tip of the Indian sub continent in the shape of a pearl drop has been the homeland of indigenous tribes. The Great epic writer of ‘Ramayana’ Walmiki called this island ‘Lanka’, a land rich in fauna and resource.

A direct decsendent of the Lion tribe in Bangali Prince Vijaya sets sail with his 700 men on board bound to Lanka. They land where the sand in beach is copper in colour. He calls the land 'Tambapanni'.

Looks like the arrival has been a long waited expectation come true for the beautiful native princess, the daughter of Yakka tribe Leader. She is overjoyed because she thinks its her powerful charms that brings the prince to her.

Prince Vijaya’s meeting with native princess Kuweni makes a historic event in the tiny island of Lanka.

The princess is brave enough to help the prince to overthrow her father’s regime and become the queen of a new race. Over time, however, she realises the mistake when King Vijaya orders her to leave the palace with the two children Jivahatta and Disaala.

Her departure from the palace with the two children is an event to celebrate for the King as he has the pleasure of inviting other beautiful princesses from his own State. He enjoys the new life with the new queens while his tribal family leaves nowhere.

The two children having lost their king father and not knowing whereabouts of the mother enter the jungles. A new tribe emerges through them called the Veddah Clan. The Veddahs still remain in the country who hunt for living in the jungles of Lanka.

Kuweni, once the queen of Lanka, unable to bear the site of others fulfilling her desires and also being chased away from her tribe as well, uses all her mighty power and curse the land and the regime.

The race of the Sinhalese starts with Vijaya's kingdom who colonises with his 700 men in various parts of the land. The name Sinhala comes with the legendary link of the king Vijaya to the Lions. (Sinhala = Sinha La = Lion blood )

The portuguese called the land 'Taprobana' and the British called the land 'Ceylon'

‘LANKA’ as first called by the writer of great epic RAMAYANA.

‘TAMBAPANNI’ as called by the first settler in the land.

‘CEYLON’ as known to the times when tea became a household drink.

‘SRI LANKA’ as known to the world now.

Dance Narrations

Mask Dance

The journey through Time and Places, in a land thousands of miles away.

A pearl drop shaped tiny island in the tip of the Indian sub continent that is rich in culture and heritage.

The tiny island in the era of 6th century Before Christ. 2600 years ago.

Not yet started a known civilization written in the book of history.
There live many tribes though in this land,
some good in hunting,
some powerful warriors,
some users of high tech metal tools.

Then comes the need to test the power of each other.

The two tribes in the land of Lanka. NAAGA and GURULU.

The beautiful dance style called the MASK DANCE depicting the fight between two imaginary tribes in the land of Lanka, fight for the fittest.

The Mask dance has been the style in Low Country to perform a story or rituals so that one’s imaginations are brought up to high levels.

The test for survivor in MASKS between NAAGA GURULU, or the COBRA versus HAWK.

Vijaya Kuweni

India the cradle of Eastern Civilization. A beautiful state BENGALI. Many mythical stories in the making of tribes. A tribe claiming descendent from lion.

The period: year 483 Before Christ.

A ship starts sailing from Bengali.
The prince of Bengali belonging to the Lion tribe, and his 700 men on board,
arriving in the land of Lanka.
The ship launches in the beach where sand is copper in colour.

The visitors wonder about.

Looks like the arrival has been a long waited expectation come true for the beautiful native princess. The daughter of Yakka tribe Leader.
She is overjoyed because thinks its her powerful charms that brings the prince to her. Perhaps she does not know yet this is going to be the start of a Great Nation.

Prince VIJAYA meets Princess KUWENI.

The Harvest Dance

The arrival of the Prince opens a new chapter in the land of Lanka.

Vijaya and his ethics mix well with native culture. A new chapter begins.

The first civilization is established. A nation is born.

Agriculture becomes priority in the day-to-day life. Unique irrigation techniques that has wondered today’s world begin to establish. Paddy becomes the major cultivation all over the land.

The lush green of the tender paddy mix with the beauty of harvesting lasses. The wind swings in rhythm to the harvesting singing.

The joy of a good harvest becomes obvious very often. A paddy field centered culture becomes part of daily life. The land becomes known as the Granary of the East.

The joy of harvest.

Sree Pada Dance

A religion arrives in the form of culture, tradition, philosophy and art.

History and legend mix with each other to identify sacred places of worship.

A unique cone shaped mountain emerges from the middle of the country. The mountain is seasonally visited by countless number of butterflies.

The legend says the great philosopher and the founder of Buddhism The Gautama Buddha set his foot print on top of this mountain during his legendary visit to Lanka 2600 years ago.

For some people this mountain becomes Sree Pada, or the Foot print of the Great One.
For some people it becomes the peak of Adam. For some people it becomes the Foot print of God Siva.

Nevertheless the great mountain is visited since the ancient times not only by the local pilgrims,
but also by emperor Alexander the Great.
the great Chinese scholar traveler monk Fa Hsien: are a few visitors in the history

The Sree Pada season starts with the arrival of butterflies followed by devotees who wish good luck to each other those who climb up and climb down.

May you be blessed upon The Great One!

Seegiri Ballet

It is time a God King is born.

The year 478 AD, the 5th century AD, he brings Art for Art’s sake. His craving for Art creates a palace on top of the Rock of Remembrance. SEEGIRIYA by name.

King Kassapa builds his palace of romance on top of the rock of SEEGIRIYA and lives in luxury mixed with mystery.

Upstream water canals and natural fountains in Geometric perfect Gardens, where beauties roam about was the creation wonder of the God King. The climbers to the rock later narrated their poems on the wall of mirror that could be seen even today.

Some describes the Rock as the eighth wonder of the world. Nevertheless it is the wonder of wonders.

The roaming beauties still haunt on rock walls even after 1500 years.

The dream of a God King to paint his beauties on the rock walls as a mysterious dream come true.

Vannam Dance

The land preserves its correct proportions for the nature. The fauna and flora in the nature allow birds to freely fly above while the animals wonder freely below. A balanced nature has been emerged.

The choreographer makes an effort to bring the beauty of wilderness on stage in the form of dance.

The VANNAMS is the ancient style of a collection of solo dances that depicts a dominant idea deriving inspiration from nature, from history, legend or folk religion. The music to VANNAMS has less stylish rhythms but rich in lyrical impulse.

On stage now is the different VANNAM dances created to depict the idea of every being living in harmony in the wilderness in our land.

The VANNAM DANCE on stage tonight depict

the Majestic gait of the Elephant in a most spectacular visualization who are sporting in the cooling waters, bathing and frolicking about.
the singing and praising of the noble peacock wanting to show off as the noble vehicle to God Skanda
the flight of the hawks leisurely floating in air like tender buds waiting to flash down on the pray they are waiting for
a lake of swans who dance to the rhythms of flowing water in the milky way.

Tea Plucker Dance

The era of plantation begins after the arrival of British rulers.

The plantation starts with cocoa, then coffee and ends up in tea.

Tea becomes successful therefore begins to cover every mountain in the Lanka. Tea Garden cities begin to emerge.

Labour becoming a necessity. The rulers turn to India and bring many men and women. The new settlers bring their own culture with them to their new homeland.

After a good pluck of the tender leaf the plucker girls are overjoyed to what they have got in their baskets. This brings good fortune to

the country as well as to them. They show off their culture in an evening gather.

They dance to the rhythms of ‘thaanam thanam dena thaanam thanam dena. . . .’

	King's Court One hundred and eighty three (183) kings rule the land of Lanka beginning in the year 483 Before Christ until 1815 After Death. The British rulers abolish the great Royal existence from the country in 1815. The city of Kandy becomes the final episode of a once great monarchy that had existed for 2300 years. Nine kings reign the city of Kandy from 1592 until 1815. An imagination has been created by the choreographer on stage to depict the Royal Entertainment Hall that would have existed during this final period of the Kandyan kingdom.
Verses of goodwill thoughts are sung in praise of the Royals. Rhythms of music give dancers the chance to entertain the never giving up Royals. Dances are performed as if they are competing with each other, whether they are Indian style or typical Kandyan style the dancers no doubt give the audience a pleasure and a royal relaxation.

Pahatha Rata Dance

A different dance style emerges from the low country region, a style that is different to others.

This style of dance depicts an event or symbolic a strong character.

The dance visualizes a story in the legends to the tunes of low country style verses and music.

The seven queens are on their way to bathe have the pleasure of sharing their experiences, a little show-off and enjoy the bathing time fun.

Fishing Ballet

With the invasion of the Portuguese in early 1500’s followed by the Dutch most of the coastal lines of Lanka turn to fishing industry.

When the industry brings good fortune, more people flock together and bring about another culture. The community adopts many foreign elements. The fortune however is in the hands of Sea Lord.

At times the Lord is kind to the fisherman and at times not. The male community goes into the sea with thousand expectations. The woman and children wait for the man to bring fortune.
It’s a never ending game of going to the sea again and again. Some may never return. Its an expectation even the arrival of the empty handed man. Tomorrow is another day to start with expectation.

Sorrow and anxiety become part of the day-to-day life, nevertheless, the community live upon going to the sea again and again.

The choreographer makes an effort to bring movements to the standstill life of fishing community in the form of ballet.

KAFFIRIGNA DANCE

With the invasion of foreign powers, foreign cultures begin to establish.

The dance style more like typical Spanish type is introduced to the country by the Portuguese. A style called Kaffirinna Baila.

A dance to the tunes played by the instrument called mandolin.

The origin of this dance is actually in the African continent belonging to an African community from whom the Portuguese had adopted into their style of dancing.

Ever since the Portuguese brought the style into the country, it becomes the most popular fast rhythmic dance style of any gathering.

The Kaffirigna dance is more elaborate when the dancers wear bright color costumes and waving the skirt while dancing to add more color and glamour.

Tamil Dance

Northern Lanka, a very long journey through salt lakes and Palmyra palms, red soils and tobacco fields.

A long established culture brought from South India. A culture that has added much value to the prevailing culture including language and religion.

The hard working community in this part of the country has preserved their music techniques and dance styles to-date.

This is the city of Jaffna, or the Port of Yaapa.

The use of colour and heavy jewelry in the dance styles in Jaffna city has influenced the rest of other dance styles.

The Karnatic music techniques blend beautifully with the Bharatha Natyam style dance. The choreographer has identified that the dance style blends well with facial expressions hence it’s a style with whole body movements.

MIXED CULTURE PERFORMANCE

The current time musician experiments in music in many ways.

They mix olden type music rhythms played with the traditional instruments with modern time music played modern instruments.

When the goes well, a beautiful master piece is produced.

The dancer, having understood both old and current time periods, carefully but stylishly prepares for a dance to an experimented music piece. The dancer does not need elaborate costumes hence no specific style of dance is portrayed. It only requires to understand the scenario.

At times, the body movements would be traditional to a traditional music piece, but soon it goes to a different style of dance step.

This probably will be the beginning of a new era of a dance style.

I have no doubts this will open a new chapter in the world of dancing and will remain longer fulfilling the desire of an imaginative audience

Team

Director of Production & Principal Choreographers
Dayani Gonsalkorale

Assistant Director of Production & Principal Choreographers
Chalanka Athalage

Dancers
Chalanka Athalage

Cast
Senior Group
Ruwangi De Silva
Dileeni Fernando
Erandhi Madurapperuma
Dharshini Abeyesundere
Yumantha Munsasinghe
Rukmie Weerasekara
Namalee Weerasekera

Teenage Group
Dhrshani Madurapperuma
Ayoni Nandasinghe
Lenoka Rupasinghe
Jayatha Dias Wanigasekera
Anushka Batuwantudawe
Rushika De Silva
Lakna Jayasinghe
Priyanwada Padukkage
Ruwini Rajasuriya
Chavi Uduwaka

Intermediate Group
Anita Abeygoonasekera
Anushka Aponso
Anne De Silva
Arunali Ranasinghe
Ganushkee Gonsalkorale
Kushani Gunawardane
Yasasvi Sirisena
Nimesha Tissera
Nathali Weerasundare

Junior Group
Dinari Abeyesundere
Deleni Abeyesundere
Dushanka Hettige
Dilshani Hettige
Sulochana Kithulagoda
Mishali Wickramasekera
Upuli Pahalawatte
Danushi Peiris
Ishali Tissera
Sachini Wanasinghe
Nayomi Lecamwasam

Boys Group
Shaheen Ahamat
Hashan Aponso
Rashmin Batuwantudawe
Tharanga Fernando
Chatura Gunawardane
Anjana Madurapperuma
Nehan Munasinghe
Suresh Rajapakse
Dumudi Sirisena
Rajeev Tissera
Rakitha Weerasundare
Chandula Wijeweera

Guest Appearances
Anil De Silva
Yasodara Sarathchandra
Kusumsiri Liyanarachchi
Prabhavathi Ravi's students

Sound Management & Video Projections
Nihal Gonsalkorale
Mahendra Munasinghe

Lighting
Jayantha Gonsalkorale

Makeup & Stage Props
Sandun Kithulagoda
Siri Munasinghe
Lasath Lecamwasam
Savi Lecamwasam

Costume Design
Vasantha de Silva

Stage Managers
Vasantha de Silva
Geethani De Silva
Chanaka Batuwantudawe
Ananda Sirisena
Roshan Abeyesundere

Parent Helpers
Anoja Batuwantudawe
Sudani De Silva
Mala Gunawardane
Jayanthi Ranasinghe
Kamala Rupasinghe
Tamara Fernando
Sumudu Madurapperuma
Upeksha Gonsalkorale
Sunethra Aponsu
Padma Sirisena
Kumudini Peiris
Latha Munasinghe
Priyani Jayasinghe

Video Camera
Ranjith de Silva
Pandula Wakkumbura