- Danceworld brings back their annual showcase to Lionel Wendt Theatre
By Shailendree Wickrama Adittiya
Chaos is the word that comes to mind when walking into the Danceworld School (DWS) of Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and Ballet, just days before their show, “Jazzin’ 22”, which will be held at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on 19 and 20 August.
And chaos is exactly how DWS Artistic Director/Founding Partner Sureka A. Gunawardena, who is the principal choreographer of “Jazzin’ 22”, describes the scene, as she uses a short break during rehearsals to talk to The Morning Brunch.
Seventeen years ago, Sureka Gunawardena was a dance teacher with a simple dream: To create a dance school where all disciplines of western dance are taught at a high level. “Besides the fact that I love education and all forms of dance, my vision is to prepare dancers for real life, while helping aspiring dancers and choreographers along the way. It is an opportunity to create awareness that dance is a profession, in terms of what dancers can do – socially, technically, and artistically,” she said.
“Jazzin’ 22” is about being united in dance, and Sureka said the theme is about coming together in these trying times. “All of the music, sounds, and choreography are in keeping with that theme, and if you notice, from the first song, it is about being brave, being strong, and knowing that you are enough. All of that to empower these children to strive for a better tomorrow,” Sureka said, adding that the performers have been training online as well.
About ‘Jazzin’ 22’
It has been five years since Danceworld last held their annual showcase, what with the Covid-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. With “Jazzin’ 22”, Danceworld is sending a positive, and much-needed message to the country. Proceeds from the show have also been pledged towards Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children’s Boundless Care Project, which has been directed to offer timely treatment and facilities to differently-abled children.
Speaking about the show, Sureka said: “This sizzling ninety-minute production will feature a grand mix of dance genres in the form of classical, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and jazz dances inspired by songs from the musicals, and movies such as Fame and The Greatest Showman, and showstoppers choreographed to more current music by popular artistes such as Alicia Keys, The Chainsmokers, Christina Aguilera, Michael Jackson, and Michael Bublé, to name a few. We are so happy for the opportunity to express the emotions of life through dance.”
Sureka added that she has had the support of the entire team at DWS led by rehearsal director and assistant choreographer Shyomie Kulatunga, rehearsal assistants Zahabiya, Alisha, Rayanka, Tanalia, and Ashenka, and senior dancers Piyusha and Krsana.
Sureka also thanked her business partner Shaanee Deen, for her invaluable advice, positive energy, and collaboration. Deen, who has been involved with the school for 12 years, insisted she works behind the scenes, and supports her best friend.
“In a time of war, you have to come out of it. You have to have hope. Life has to go on. It’s not just surviving; it’s living. We need to live life today, and to live life, we need to have these activities. It’s not about everybody standing in queue, surviving,” she said.
Dance as a profession
Although she wished to remain unnamed, a close confidante of Sureka shared with us her admiration for the work Sureka has done over the years, and explained the difficulties Sureka has overcome when following her passion for dance. Sureka has worked hard to give hope to women who wish to make a career out of dance, and we learnt that Sureka challenged the notion that a mother cannot be a career woman, and must instead stay at home.
“I think what she’s trying to achieve for Sri Lanka as a whole, is something phenomenal because at the end of the day, cricket is given so much prominence, rugby is given so much prominence. Why not dance?” she questioned, highlighting that today, dance is recognised globally not just as a sport, but as a source of income.
She added that Sureka is trying to change the mind-set where parents want children to become lawyers and doctors, which is why the number of dancers reduces in senior classes.
Demonstrating this mindset change was one of the younger dancers, Suhaila de Zoysa. When asked how she felt about the show, Suhaila said: “I feel like I’m very needed, and I feel like I am very important in the role. And I am happy when I dance.”
She said the DWS gives her every opportunity there is to dance and that she joined because of her love for dance and music. “I like to watch people dance and I have respect for them,” she said.
When asked about dance as a profession, she said it was definitely possible if people put their mind to it. We asked Suhaila if she would like to be a dancer when she grows up. “Well, I would love to be, but I’m kind of at a loss at what I want to be. I really want to be a dancer because it is what makes me happy. I don’t know what happens when I grow up, but I hope I will be a dancer,” Suhaila responded.
Breathtaking costumes
As the performers try on their costumes for the first time, one gets a glimpse of the show planned for the weekend. “The entire production has been uplifted by the breathtaking costumes executed by my mother, Mitabi Gunawardena, who even at the ripe age of 83 has ceaseless positivity, and unwavering energy, which is such an inspiration to me,” Sureka said. She added that the first item of the show will display everyone in their costumes for the second and third acts.
The Morning Brunch had the opportunity to speak to Mitabi Gunawardena, who had with her, a photograph of Sureka when she was just four years old, wearing the first costume her mother made for her.
“I did sewing because of Sureka – whatever she took part in, I did her costumes. But then, when the teachers saw the getup, they asked me, ‘why are you doing only your daughters? Why don’t you do the rest?’ Oosha Saravanamuttu is the one who introduced me to doing this,” Mitabi Gunawardena said.
She added that she has stitched costumes for several schools in Colombo, including Royal College, S. Thomas’ College, Visakha Vidyalaya, Bishops College, and Ladies’ College. “Schoolchildren know me as Aunty Mitabi,” she said, recalling several instances where people have come up to her and said she made their costumes when they were in primary grades.
“Once I do a costume and see it on stage, the satisfaction I get is the main thing,” she said.
Impact on students
There is no doubt that Sureka has made an impact on her students. Speaking to The Morning Brunch, Senior Instructor and Head of Administration Shyomie Kulatunga said: “My cousin sister used to dance at Danceworld, and she would come and teach me the dance steps when I was four, so I bugged my parents until they finally called Aunty Sureka and got me a trial and that’s how I joined Danceworld.”
She explained that she has been part of the school since 2006, just before her fifth birthday. “I’m still here, sixteen years later. I got into assisting through volunteering, because I used to come and watch, and I just started helping out.”
“It’s amazing working with Aunty Sureka. It’s really a one of a kind experience. She’s creative. You learn so much,” she added.
Shyomie said the show is going pretty great so far, and that the performers are well-rehearsed, and rehearsing more. Speaking about the lack of an annual showcase for five years, she said: “It was really difficult not having a show. We still can’t believe it has been five years since we had our last show.”
Meanwhile, Piyusha Sumanapala said she joined the DWS fifteen years ago, when she was eleven. “I’m 25 now. Since I started, I pretty much grew up with her school. The school, and especially aunty, played a huge role in shaping who I am and my discipline.”
She added that the last showcase in 2017 also happened to be the last she took part in before she went to university, but she joined classes online every now and then before properly joining again this year.
Piyusha said it was nice to be back. “I think it’s amazing. This is something I have missed out, being part of something. It’s been a huge part of my life – even though I joined Aunty Sureka at 11, I’ve been dancing since I was four.”
“At least for me, it has been one thing that kept me sane,” she added.