Rangabhisheka – Kala Eli Mangalyaya-First Time Ever In New Zealand & Outside Sri Lanka
Posted on February 11th, 2012
Dr. Chula Rajapakse MNZM, Wellington NZ 11.2..12
Over three hundred Sri Lankans in Wellington New Zealand and their Kiwi friends , were treated to a scintillating display of a wide array Sri Lankan dancing, for over three hours, on Saturday the 4th of February at the Memorial Theatre in the Victoria UniversityƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Wellington .ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ This RangabhishekaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ show was a celebration of excellence achieved by four graduating students of theƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Sri Lankan Dance Academy of Wellington New Zealand, Ruwangi De Silva, Nirosha Gunawardana, Thilini Nanayakkara & Yasassvie Sunderapperuma. The show ,followed a consecration or crowning of the four dances with the femininely modified KandyanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ Vess outfit that included a religious ceremony at the Buddhist temple in TawaƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ , Wellington , administered by resident monk Bhante Jinalankara.
The months of intensive training leading to this graduation was spear headed by famed dancing Guru from Sri Lanka Mohan Sudusinghe, specially brought inƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ by the Dance Academy to build on the years of training already received under the Director of the Academy , Dayani Gonsalkorale. The exquisite timing and ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ coordination, the graceful and complex movements involving the whole body, keeping time with the drumbeats of Guru MohanƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ and the exquisite costumes, were both a treat to watch and testimony to the untiring efforts of pupils , teachers, parents and wide array of helpers.
Performances by other senior , intermediateƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ &ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ junior studentsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ added to the variety and color of the evening.
The presentations of the evening drew praise from Mr. Ian McKinnon, Deputy Mayor of Wellington , the chiefƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ guest for the evening. Mr McKinnonƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ who was well aquainted with the academy through much of itƒÆ’‚¢ƒ¢-¡‚¬ƒ¢-¾‚¢s history of overƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ two decades, acknowledged the significant contribution made by the academy to the cultural diversity and richness of Wellington. The ability to make regularƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ & quality presentationsƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ of Sri Lankan dance through out this twoƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ ƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ decade history, thousands of miles away from Sri Lanka is both unique and testimony toƒÆ’-¡ƒ”š‚ the dedication and enthusiasm of all involved with the academy.