Natando: Re-living culture | Sunday Observer

Natando: Re-living culture

1 January, 2023
Lecturer Rasika Kothalawala and his wife Nisha Kothalawala resides among the best few dancers of Sri Lanka, portraying perfectionism in their performances and adding colour to the Sri Lanka culture. Incorporating depth, meaning, value, colour, movement and love for a long lasted culture, they presented the exclusive dance concert Natando recently at the Lionel Wendt Art Centre. Rasika Kothalawala shared his journey of dance and Natando with the Sunday Observer. 
 
Excerpts
 
Q: How was the dance family of Rasika Kothalawala, Nisha Kothalawala, Ragana Kothalawala, Thanuri Kothalawala and Ramithu Kothalawala formed?
 
A: I believe that my children have an inborn talent. Neither I nor my wife, Nisha have forced them to take up dancing for any reason. Our eldest son, Ragana, is currently a Business Management Undergraduate. Our daughter, Thanuri, is pursuing her A/ Levels in the commerce stream and our youngest son, Ramithu, is still in eighth grade. 
Although they study different subjects, they all love cultural dance. Regardless of what other streams they pursue, we, as parents, are proud to have children who love our traditionality and would be responsible for preserving this heritage for the future generations.
 
Q: What is the story of the Rasika Kothalawala Dancing School?
 
A: My mother is a dancing teacher. She conducted a dance class when I was schooling. In 1996, while I was doing my A/ Levels, the same class was registered in the Department of Cultural Affairs under the name of ‘Rasika Kothalawala Dancing School.’  We participated in competitions including Youth Awards and State Dance Festival and won many competitions throughout, and received great responses for the concerts we held. 
There were endless challenges, but they were all blessings for me. And that’s how my name was popular among the people. Although we received only a few victories back then, now we have been able to achieve victories in all sectors of performance. The Rasika Kothalawala Dancing School also won the award for the best performing arts institution in the Western Province. We have also received nearly 30 state awards.
 
Q: Natando is one of most extravagant concerts that have been staged recently. It is a different work of art. Let’s talk more about this.
 
A: Natando is the 20th dance performance performed by the ‘Rasika Kothalawala Dancing School’ in the past 25 years. Compared to all the previous performances, I thought that a change should be made in this year’s performance; a change in the aspects of dance, costumes, make-up, choreography and lighting.
This concert was held after seven years of silence. The break due to the spread of the pandemic around the world also gave me the opportunity to use it to reveal my creativity through a new direction. I also researched on how to execute our cultural dance on to the proscenium stage, while pursuing my Master’s Degree in the University of Kelaniya. I feel that all these have led to the success of the Natando concert.
 
Q: Can you share more about the creativity, the concept, costumes and lighting arrangements that played a huge role behind the success of “Natando?”
 
A: I am the creative director as well as the concept designer of Natando. But it is with my wife Nisha that I share and discuss all my creative ideas first; therefore, the support I get from her is beyond words. Lecturer Ajith Kumara was the light designer of the concert, and we spent a lot of time on the lighting administration throughout Natando.
Lighting has a special place in the dance performance, since dance is all about body movements; it must be based on the various levels of light to portray the performance with perfection. From the place where the existence of the world is determined, light has been a unique aspect. 
 
Q: Natando typically portrayed your utmost attempt of preserving the wonderful folk music and dance with the essence of the Sri Lankan culture for the future generations. The “Natando” audience was left emotional after the concert; no doubt that those were happy tears. What is your reaction to that response?
 
A: The biggest joy for an artiste is the response of the audience. I was lucky enough to enjoy that response to the fullest. We performed 12 dance concepts in “Natando.” Among them were about the mother, the country, the period between life and death, ‘Sooniyam Moorthi’, ‘Naari’ and other completely different elements. The response of the audience to each and every performance was extremely emotional, and felt great about each of the reactions. We, as a group, were incredibly inspired by the unexpected responses. We are truly grateful for that immense love.
 
Q: In the midst of a wave of people leaving Sri Lanka and settling abroad, you have taught the young generation to proudly say “Me Rata Mage Rata.” Shouldn’t this be the future trend of the country?
 
A: There were two performances during the concert and at the curtain call for the song Me Rata Mage Rata. All the youngsters who were present in the concert performed it with great emotion. I’m humbled and proud of that. 
The trend should be to create a generation that loves our country and locality. I am happy to have taken small steps towards that. There are people all over Sri Lanka who love our country because of its rich culture and traditions. We are at a time to support such generations in preserving Sri Lankan locality in the future as well.
 
Q: Could you share more about how you made the Government to change circulars back then?
 
A: It was in 2012 when we participated in the state dance competition. In the circular, it was mentioned that only two dance performances can be presented by a single institution. I presented two performances each through the Rasika Kothalawala Dancing School, Lyceum International School and an Orphanage, whereas all got qualified for the first place. 
On the last day, Paththinipadha was among the first place performances and won the award for the best state dance of the year. Since the same person qualified for six awards at the ceremony, the circular was changed from the following year stating that one person could present only two performances.
 
Q: What if we recall the amazing start of the dance journey of Rasika Kothalawala and Nisha Kothalawala?
 
A: In 1996, as soon as we finished high school, we joined the dance group of the Maharagama National Youth Services Council. That’s where our love started. With further development of the Rasika Kothalawala Dancing School, we both received a civic value in the Arts industry. As a family, we are sincerely happy that with our daughter and two sons, we have embarked on the path to write the future of Sri Lanka cultural dance.

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