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Hertfordshire's Cowley
Hill Primary School in the UK has made
history by presenting the first ever
traditional cultural show and workshops
outside of Sri Lanka. This performance
started their International cultural
week. Their week started with the Sri
Lanka drumming and dancing presentation
in a Monday morning assembly.
The origin of Sri Lankan
dances goes back to indigenous tribes
and Yakkas (demon worshippers).
According to Sinhalese legend, Kandiyan
(Kandy was the last royal capital of Sri
Lanka) dances originated about 2500
years ago, from a ritual that broke the
spell cast on a king. The classical
dance forms are associated with rituals
and ceremonies originating from folk
traditions going back to times before
the advent of Buddhism in Sri Lanka in
the third century B.C.E. This began with
blowing the conshell. According to
customs, every auspicious occasion is
heralded by conshell, to invoke
divine blessing.
The drummers were
highlighted in Pancha Thuirya
Vadanaya (the drum orchestra). The
drum has been the king of instruments
and 20 types of drums are used in Sri
Lanka. The performance featured Atata
(playing drums with hands); Vithatha
(playing drums with sticks);
Atata-Vithatha (using hand and
stick); Ghanya (instruments made
of metal) and Shushira (wide
instruments like flute or the Sri Lankan
trumpet, horanewa).
During the workshops
children had the chance to learn about
the legends and the different types of
drums. They also had the chance to
experience a variety of Sri Lankan
drums. The dances, rhythm, instruments,
costumes were all new to the student
audience and the performances were
greeted with enthusiastic applause.
This Rhythm show and work shops were
conducted by UK veteran Sri Lankan
performer Mr Panduka Wikramarathna and
his team. All the Drums and Traditional
costumes used on the work shop were
given free of charge by the Sri
Saddatissa International Buddhist Centre
in Kingsbury, North London. Organisers
wishes to thank Ven. Galayaye Piyadassi
Nayaka Thera for the generosity |
