Kandy’s veteran dancers honoured

Veteran dancer Peter Suriyasena

• Eleven families of dancers and drummers met at the home of veteran  dancer Peter Suriyasena. They displayed their talents at the Peter Suriyasena Open Air Theatre

Kanday Esala Maha Perahera is over and as dusk sets in Kandy Town anyone feels an emptiness after the streets are cleared of the  drummers, dancers and elephants. This is perhaps the only country in the world that men and animals brush against each other and walk side by side without causing harm to each other.
But have we given a thought to those living the lives of a dancers and drummer? Without them these elephants would not be part of this annual pageant.  
Eleven families of dancers and drummers met at the home of veteran  dancer Peter Suriyasena. They displayed their talents at the Peter Suriyasena Open Air Theatre; a facility built by his son Susantha Suriyasena.

The families that met were identified as members of the clans: Tithapagala , Talagune , Nittawela, Ihalawela, Malagammana, Molagoda, Yakkwela, Hapugoda and Talgahagoda. 
These clans were represented by their students and the ‘Dancing Maestros’ themselves.  Some of these seasoned dancers were too feeble to stand on their feet.
What is the future of these these experienced dancers and what are they going to leave behind as their talents and experiences?  This is a question to be answered not only by them, but by the entire country. One cannot get back their experience and also their fine dancing and drumming skills. 

These veterans have offered their best to the Kandy Esala Perahera; which has been their stage for the past many years. Some of them have been performing at the pageant since they were 10 or 12years old. Questioned are raised as to how they’d survive during old age?  In other countries artistes of this nature are well protected until they breathe their last, but sadly not in this country.

Representatives of leading families of dancers and drummers in the Kandyan region pose for a picture

Drummer Ihalawela Ariyadasa had this to say “ I have been in the Hewisi group for over sixty years and travelled over one thousand kilometres in the Kandy Esala Perahera. But I was never exhausted.  I am seventy eight years old and I have not worn my dress for the past seven years. I have come here in order to be with the others at this felicitation ceremony organised by the son of Golden dancer Peter Suriyasena. My feet are not stable and I feel the effects of long years put into dancing. There is no one to look after us. The authorities only needed our performances; and that was when we could dance. I still remember the stanzas that I recited when I was younger and used to recite them when I went in the Esala Pageant”.
In fact this type of felicitation should be the responsibility of the State, but no such authority has come forward. Suriyasena’s son had taken the initiative to bring these artistes together at a function.  By doing so, young Suriyasena has given the impression that these veterans are needed in this country.

Most of the younger men in these families have left this profession and found employment in other professions. This is because they know that there is no opportunity for them to earn a decent living by being artistes in pageants.  However  the older artistes are still sticking to the same profession as they have no other option in terms of finding alternative employment.   Felicitation ceremonies of this nature show that these veteran artistes are  needed in society.

The open air theatre came alive even though the performances by these veterans were for a few hours. They showcased enough skills underscoring the fact that the audience still loves to see them perform. They are not young, but their performances underscored an old saying, ‘Old is gold’. 

The Tithapagala clan was represented by T.Y.Premachandara  and Sumanaweera. The Eramuduliyadde clan was represented by I .G.Sirisoma and Premadasa. The Uduwela clan was represented by O.G.Karunadasa. The Molagoda clan was represented by B.G.Jamis. The Yakkwela clan was represented by Wimalasiri. Philadeniya and Matale Kotambe clans were represented by E.M.G.Siripala. They all performed at this felicitation ceremony. 

These artistes have been under the tutelage of masters in the past. They said that everyday they were learning something new.  These words underscore what valuable lessons were given to them by their ancestors and fathers.

‘Ves’

Veteran dancer Peter Suriyasena said, “I have not participated in the Kandy Esala Pageant for the past four years. During the period I performed I didn’t consume any flesh; not even Maldive fish.  It is with that honor that I participated in this religious pageant. Everyone who learned dancing at the place where we trained followed the same ritual. I have not viewed the pageant for the past four years and when I see others participating, I too long to take part. But my legs cannot withstand the demands of dancing.  We have safeguarded this profession showing more love than our own kith and kin towards being artistes. We were never crowned with ‘Ves’ as how it is done in schools at present. Dancing at pageant has become an commercial enterprise. Now as many as 60 to 100 are crowned with ‘Ves’. These young student dancers do not know the gravity of being crowned with‘Ves’. Their parents are spending thousands to get their children to be crowned with ‘Ves’. These parents do not have a clue about what ‘Ves’ is!  

“I should appreciate that my children are engaged in the same profession that I was engaged in. Our contributions have given our contemporaries a status.  Today even women tutors are crowing their students with ‘Ves’ not knowing the gravity of this art and how it should be done. Just a few years of training at these dancing schools doesn’t qualify a student to be crowned with ‘Ves’” he said.  Dancer Suriyasena has performed to audiences at Carnegie Hall and the Albert Hall in the United Kingdom.

Ihalawela  had this to say. “This type of felicitation should be done by the State, but since it is not been done, Susantha had taken the initiative to do so. This is a great gesture not only by him, but by the ‘ breed ‘of Kandyan dancers and drummers.  We have been the “ Hewisi “ drummers of the Sri Dalada Maligawa (Temple of Tooth). We are also associated with the Sri Maha Bodhi of Anuradhapura.  One cannot be a dancer only by learning from books as much is taught in traditional dancing schools.  There must be an older hand to show the finer points in dancing” he added.

Susantha Suriyasena had this to say, “Though those who should take an initiative in this type of exercise do not do so, there are people from other counties who appreciate these artistes and their practice. One of them is a Japanese by the name Disuke Hashaki who has been viewing the Kandy Esala pageant and taken an interest in Kandyan Dancing.  He has offered his support to this felicitation ceremony to show his appreciation towards Kandyan dancing’ said Susantha Suriyasena.  He also opined that foreigners have taken an interest in Kandyan dancing. He added that they are ready to support and this dance so as to make it sustain. He added that such help should be offered by the State.  He also said that he has not seen the authorities showing any interest to help these veteran artistes. He said that such help should be offered by an organisation or by the State. 

• Some of them have been performing at the pageant since they were 10 or 12years old
• However  the older artistes are still sticking to the same profession as they have no other option