Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation to elevate traditional dance to global standards
Friday, 24 January 2014 10:26
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The Chitrasena Vajira Dance Foundation hosted an evening of dance and refreshments on the 18th and 19th of January, 2014 to unveil the vision to elevate their traditional dance to a globally recognized classical dance form over the next five years.
In this well attended event, the Foundation launched an “Endowment Fund” campaign to achieve the bold vision set by them. The Foundation also made an open invitation to all the stakeholders to become engaged over the next five years with them in this project of national importance.
Commenting about the initiative to form an endowment fund, Artistic Director, Chitrasena Dance Company, Heshma Wignaraja said, “The endowment fund is a landmark achievement for us along our way to take traditional dance to one of the finest classical dance forms of the world. Aspiring traditional dancers, in Sri Lanka, cannot pursue a career in dance as it does not provide a sustainable living. Therefore, they need financial support as well as infrastructure and training to be able to commit to a career in dance. This fund is vital for us to establish a Centre for Dance and to maintain activities that will ensure sustainability of our efforts.”
Arun Abey, Chairman of ipac securities Australia, and Patron of the Endowment Campaign, and his family, made the initial pledge of $100,000 to initiate the fundraising effort. In making the presentation to Guru Vajira Chitrasena, Mr. Abey said, “The Chitrasena Kalayathanaya is one of the few places that combine mastery of technique with individual artistry, enabling their artistes to take you to a higher place. It is incumbent on us to ensure that this institution thrives as a vibrant Centre for Dance, well into the future.”
The Endowment Fund will address setting up of a Centre for Dance, introducing a recognised qualification in the Performing Arts and forming a cadre of professionally trained traditional dancers and artistes with a sustainable living as key initiatives amongst others.
Founded in 1943 and nurtured under the creative genius of Sri Lanka’s iconic dancing duo, Gurus Chitrasena and Vajira, the Chitrasena Dance Company introduced Traditional Dance’ as an authentic Sri Lankan dance form to national and international audiences.
The Chitrasena Kalayathanaya was founded in 1944 and since its inception, the school has provided the opportunity for generations of aspiring dancers around the country to establish themselves as professional dancers, drummers and choreographers, and represent Sri Lanka as cultural ambassadors across the globe.
Throughout the seventy years of its existence, the Chitrasena Dance Company and Kalayathanaya have given life to compelling performances ranging from rich and deep repertoire of dance and drumming items, to acclaimed ballets and productions inspired by ancient rituals and contemporary culture. Karadiya (1961), Nala Damayanthi (1963), Nrithanjali (1965), Kinkini Kolama (1978), Shiva Ranga (1984), Chandalika (1996), Bera Handa (2001) and more recently Barefeet in Motion (2003), The Art of Chitrasena (2006), Kumbi Kathawa (2007), Dancing for the Gods (2010) and Samhara (2012), with Nrityagram (Dance Ensemble of Bangalore) are amongst its ground-breaking productions.
