Ravibandhu – as he was to the masters, the critics and the audience Within the confines of my school there are a few dancers of exceptional talent. I do not wish to sound selective by referring to my own students, but objectively I see in them the future torch bearers of the modern dance theatre. An up and coming artiste, I wish to mention is Ravibandhu Vidyapathy. He is the son of Somabandhu and comes from a line of traditional dancers. His talents are many and varied. He is technically sound and a compelling dancer. He is a very fine drummer and a talented painter and has undergone training in Kathakali at the Kerala Kala Mandalam. He has also experimented in the ballet medium and is altogether an intelligent and versatile artiste who should go along way.
- Dr. Chitrasena

One of the best known of Sri Lanka’s young dancers and choreographers, with a wide knowledge of both Sri Lankan and Indian dance forms. Also a fine drummer and an exponent of many types of South Asian drums. He studied the North Indian classical drumming on Pakhavaj and Tabla and specialized in the Kandyan drum. With his wide knowledge Ravibandhu now experiments combining many types of percussions with different sorts of music.
- Tissa Abeysekara – Art Critic

Ravibandhu’s artistry derives from intense musicality and the ability to transfer a musician’s sensitivity from inner ear to outer body. His dancing was phrased and the phrasing was intelligent and lucid. Not a beat was obscured – even those that were silent and felt only in the gut. He attacked movements almost imperceptibly early with a drummers drive to the next count. He moved with an overarching view of where he was coming from and where he was gong to. So that he never danced for the moment. Like waves the phrases surged forward till they rested in serene repose and then swelled again.
-Pamala Squire – The Washington Post

Ravi’s portrayal of Judas after his betrayal of Jesus was charged with emotional electricity that was tangible to the audience. His feelings of guilt, sadness and some deeper, darker emotion transfixed the onlookers.
-Sandamali Jayasekara – The Sunday Observer

Some weeks ago, Ravibandhu presented at the Lionel Wendt a dance programme which brought the traditional and modern streams together. Eclectic and wide ranging, he melded the Indian and the Sri Lankan and South Asian. Himself an experienced and accomplished had on a variety of drums, Ravibandhu used both rhythm and melody to good effect – to tell stories and to create moods.
-Jayadeva – Sunday Island

Program: Lanka Ranga

Venue: University of Minnesota St. Paul Campus

2017 Buford Ave. St.Paul Minnesota 55108 Phone:612-625-9794

Student Center Auditorium

Date: February 9th 2008 at 6.30 pm

Rhythems of SriLanka - Presented by the State Dance Ensemble

Duration Two Hours

1. Perahera chants and Magul Bera - a microcosm of the Kandy Perahera the grand streett pageant of the hill capital of Sri Lanka, followed by ceremonial drumming chanting that invokes the blessings of the triple gem the Buddha, Dhamma and Sangha.

2. Pooja - Dance of invocation to Sarasvathie goddess of the arts.

3. Naga Raksha - This mask dance from the southern Low lands depicts the rivalry of the cobra and eagle.

4. Ukussa - A modern interpretation of the traditional eagle dance to a musical composition lased on the traditional melody.

5. Shiva Gajasura Mardhana - adapted from the traditional Kathakali style of South India this dance symbolizes the seduction of the demon Gajaswa by God Shiva.

6. Gajaga Vannama - A Kandyan style dance that pose the majestic, graceful gait of the elephant.

7. Geta Bera - A drum dance that shows the intricacies of the traditional Kandyan drumming

I N T E R V A L

8. Ves Netuma - A most elaborate dance from the sil “ Kohomba Kankariya” which spawned the Kandyan dance tradition.

9. Mayura Vannama - The dance of the glamorous peacock based on the traditional Vann ama (song)

10. Thelme - a highly acrobatic dance in the low county style adapted from the traditional devol Maduwa.

11. Goyam Kepeema - Harvest dance depicting the initials and activation of the paddy field.

12. Dawul – Tammattam - A dance that show cases the skillful drumming art of Sri Lanka with associates with the Buddhist temples.

13. Giri Devi - Giri Devi in the consort of demon Gana who is responsible for the sanitation of the sit asena. Giri Devi in considered a symbol of grace.

14. Samooha Bera - An attestation of different types of Sri Lanka Drums.

Dancers (Male)

Ravibandu Vidyapathy

Upul Bandara

Matotage Hemachandra

Chaminda Mahawatta

Manoj Shivantha

Dancers (Female)

Tanuja Dilhani

Dulani Vajiramala

Harini Peiris

Sujani Malithi

Nayana Kumuduni

Masters Drummers

Prasanna Rupatilaka

Udayapriya Kumara

Saman Kumara

The Manager M. Laksham Perera , Senior Additional Secretary Ministry of Cultural Affairs