My Passion for Dancing
Harischandra
Boralessa
Origins
In our ancestral home in Akuressa, whenever we had dinner parties, there would always be music to entertain our friends and relatives. My father played the violin; a retired gentleman living with us called “Lansi Mahathmaya” played the piano. The opening pieces were usually La Paloma or Over the Waves (“The Loveliest Night of the Year”) followed by Roll out the Barrel, You are my Sunshine etc. When the baila music started, my father used to ask me, an eight-year-old boy, to dance. My dance was a simple one, solely consisting of jumping up and down on the spot and clapping my hands to the beat. That was my introduction to dancing.
As
schoolboys, we did a lot of baila dancing in the college boarding,
particularly during the Royal Thomian Cricket Match period, but no ballroom
dancing.
During my medical school days, I was very keen on ballroom dancing, and one of my favourite hobbies was listening to Music for Dancing played on a Saturday Night, Radio Ceylon Broadcast. I would imagine that I was on the dance floor. I was able to keep to the time to the Music but did not know many steps. The two dances I was able to do were the Social Foxtrot and the Quick Step – no Cha Cha, Rhumba or Tango. During my undergraduate days, the combination of being shy, having an intense study schedule and having difficulties in finding a dancing partner, restricted the opportunity for social dancing. Looking back, this was a period during which I would have really enjoyed dancing. Maybe I missed a trick or two.
Things
changed dramatically after qualifying as a doctor. I metamorphosed: a more
confident, better-dressed and smiling personality. Finding a dance partner was
not as difficult as before. I remember the late Lucky Weerasoriya at one of our
early batch reunions commenting that I had improved and looked quite the man
about town. I had the good fortune of finding a partner who was also passionate about dancing. In the late sixties and early seventies, Harshi and I used to go
dancing frequently to the Coconut Grove and the Arcasa Kadde.
In
England we have been going for tea dances and evening dances regularly – two to
three times a week. In so doing, we have been able to expand our repertoire to
include all Latin American Dances and the waltz. It is Strictly Come Dancing.
Everyone sticks to their wives or partners. Some venues used to do a “bus stop”
during the short break: some ladies,
particularly the single ladies, stood in a queue. The men would take it in
turns to invite the lady at the top of the queue for a dance. After going round
the dance hall once, the man would leave her at the end of the queue and then
ask the lady at the top of the queue for a dance. This practice stopped with
the onset of the Covid epidemic. Some of the nicest people I have met in the UK
have been through dancing. We also go on dancing holidays to Spain and Cyprus.
Regular dancing has enabled us to keep our joints supple and to maintain a good
posture. Randomised controlled studies
have confirmed that ballroom dancing delays the onset of dementia. So, keep
dancing.
The above YouTube video shows Harshi and Harsha performing the Opening Dance at the annual dance hosted by The Past Pupils Association of Visakha UK on the 18th of October 2025 at Crowne Plaza, Beaconsfield, to music provided by Frontline. Click on the white arrow with the red background and the video will play OR, you can watch it on YouTube by clicking on the link given- your choice!
Bora needed a touch of gentle pursuasion to post this as he didn't want it to sound like a boast; always fully clothed at dances, so modest! Having seen Harsha and Harshi dancing live, I can vouch for their superb talent- a joy to watch.
ReplyDeleteMahan
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouraging comments and for putting my post and video on the Blog.
The Visakha OGA in the UK provides 24 bursaries for undergraduate alumni of Visakha attending universities in Sri Lanka. Over the years the OGA has donated more than £300,000.00 to fund the bursary scheme. The Annual Dinner Dance is the main fundraiser for this worthy cause.
I am so glad the video was posted on the blog I too have watched H & H dance live. they dance to perfection. I am looking forward to their visit to SL later this month where they will be joining me at 2 dances The SLMA annual gala dance on the 12 th Dec & the ABR( Association of British Residents on the 5 th Dec looking forward very much tobseeing them & to watching them
ReplyDeletelong may they continue to enjoy dancing
Hi Pram
DeleteThank you for your encouraging comments and good wishes. Harshi and I are looking forward to the two dances on the 5th and 12th of December – we had a really good time last year.
Do you remember our QE2 Cruise to New York with some of our batch mates? Had a great time – dance lessons in the morning and dancing to a live band in the evening. All dressed up.
Sorry Bora. i should have mentioned that your article too was very interesting. I have often wondered how you got into ball room dancing
ReplyDeleteNow I know!! Thanks Bora
pram
ReplyDeleteRohini
On 19. Nov 2025, at 14:37, Rohini Anandaraja wrote:
Mahen, Thank you for alerting me to this post. I so appreciate your efforts at keeping the blog going .
Bora , Thanks for sharing with us the story of your introduction to dancing .
I have been a fan of ballroom dancing from my early teenage years and have enjoyed every opportunity to engage in it.
To be able to dance well is also a gift - needing not just agility ,but a good appreciation of musical rhythm ,timing ,coordination and also stamina.
eg. a good tango needs a great deal of technical skill.
Not all who can appreciate rhythm manage the ear/ feet coordination either.
The Coconut Grove and Akasa Kade were accessible haunts to just have a relaxing evening dancing for fun !
Hope you have a wonderful time dancing at the DBU in SL.
Cheers - Rohini
DeleteHi Rohini
Thank you very much for your comments. You seem to have in an in-depth knowledge of ballroom dancing. Sounds like you are a good dancer. Interesting comments on the Tango. According to our Dance Teacher, the Argentine Tango is our best dance. Most Sri Lankans have a good sense of rhythm especially the women. I love to listen, sing and dance to Baila.
Bora, thank you for being brave enough to share the video of you and Harshi dancing, and for writing this interesting article. Your (and Harshi's) dancing is fabulous! You were a bashful guy while in Medical College, and I don't remember you hitting the dance floor much at all. I didn't know much about ballroom dancing when I entered Medical College. Perhaps my experience was all I had seen in the movies. Because I had some extroverted female friends I joined them in attending the Colors Nights and the Block Nights which I did enjoy. I learned all I could from some excellent dancers in our batch, such as J.C Fernando, Lareef Idroos and Sidath Jayanetti to name a few. I learned enough not make a fool of myself. Later on, when I was single again, I joined a couple of married friends and took some formal ballroom dancing lessons. But, I realized that as a female it is best to take the classes with a partner, because when one is on the dance floor, the female has to follow the male lead, good or bad. It became a frustrating experience for me, and I became a "ballroom dancing dropout!"
ReplyDeleteBora, I do remember one memorable experience in NYC at one of the doctors' dances, when you spun me around the dance floor and made me look really good. That was fun! I will contact you privately to get more details about the DBU dances. I'm not sure if I am up to the challenge. Can I wear my sneakers? Just kidding...
ReplyDeleteHi Srianee
Thanks for your kind comments. Agree I was bashful and didn’t make use of the Block Night and the Colours Night till the final year. I too remember the NYC dance vividly when we had to weave through a crowded dance floor. You danced very well – it takes two to tango.
I am sure that you will be up to the challenge at the DBU. See you soon.
Bora's dancing skills is a reminder of the incredible range of talent in our batch, from academic to the arts. If any of you have suggestions for me to approach some more batchmates of the bashful or even the forceful category, I shall chase them and try and post some of their achievements. We already had ND, Chira, Srianee, Bora, Yankee Bala (Crafts), Lama (academic), Douglas M (author), The late Zita, Cyril Ernest and Lareef (sports), Sujatha Maligaspe (Dancing), Lucky Abey (literary), Pram (academic), Kumar G (literary), Suriyakanthie (Academic) and I am sure some I cannot recall at the moment. Any other artists or musicians?
ReplyDeleteWouldn't that be great! Put your thinking hats on and send me some suggestions.
Hi Speedy, What about Rohini S our
ReplyDelete" Pocket Edition" who was a graceful Manipuri dancer when young as well as a Creative writer and Poet in her later yeas
Above comment is me Suri
DeleteSuri, Just got curious to see how my name suddenly appeared in the midst of all these celebrity batchmates ! I am amazed that you still remember the frolics of my youth ! If I danced gracefully it was only because I greatly admired the talent of my teacher who in her late sixties danced with divine grace. Her beautiful flowing movements were a treat to watch and learn from - She learned her art from Tagore’s Shantiniketan and taught many forms of Indian dancing such as the popular Bharatnatyam, Kathakali etc but I opted for Manipuri as I found it very elegant and beautiful. Thank you for your kind comment -
DeleteYou seem to be the ultimate Queen of Baila in SL ! It is a great way to let yourself go - Keep it up !
Warm Regards -Rohini
Hi Bora
ReplyDeleteI loved reading the journey of your blossoming as a dancer, and watched the video of you dance with your beautiful wife Harshi with delight. Both of you make a striking couple on the dance floor as I have witnessed on many occasions.
Most of us girls had no clue about ballroom dancing when we entered Medical College. As Bunter mentioned in her response, we were taken under the wing if batchmates like JC, Patas, Lareef, Cigar who made it their life mission to teach us the rudiments. I clearly remember being steered across the King George's Hall floor ( which was the venue for most dances those days) with my partner muttering back side together, side, forward side together side under his breath !
Baila dancing however is another matter. As long as you have a sense of rhythm, imagination and able to let yourself go, you can be a good Baila dancer. In fact Mahendra and I have won several Baila Dancing Competitions in the past .. ie Royal College, Grindlays Bank, SSC , SLMA,
Surgeon -An Dance are some I can recall.
We used to improvise steps including Kandiyan Dance steps, enacting a bull fight, grabbing a bottle from a table and pretending to hammer Mahendra with it etc.
We decided to go for formal Ballroom dancing classes and went every Sunday evening to Toni Fernandez a well known dance teacher for about one year . It was a delight to learn to do the Waltz, Samba, Cha Cha and the Jive the correct way.The outcome of this was that we did a demonstration Cha Cha at the SLM A Doctors Concert. I remember Lucky telling me that he had made a recording of our performance.
Now alas my vigorous dancing days are over because of my THR. But can still manag a slow dance.
Keep dancing Bora. It's such a delightful form of exercise.
Suri
Bora
DeleteI enjoyed reading your interesting article, how you blossomed into a great dancer and also the video dancing with Harshi.
You both are great dancers, I have seen you both dancing at our batch re unions.
Keep dancing, enjoy your self and you have the added advantage of not getting Dementia.
I will always remember how you organised our batch get together last September 2024 in London. I am very thankful to you as I really enjoyed myself.
Hoping to see you both soon on Sri Lanka.
All the best !
Chira
Hi Chira
DeleteThank you for your kind comments.
Pleased that you found the post interesting and enjoyed the video.
It was a pleasure to have organized the Sept 2024 reunion at Mandarin Palace. Thanks are also due to my co-organizers Mahan and Harshi. David Anthoniz was very pleased that he had the chance to meet you after such a long time.
Hope to meet you soon.
Suri, congratulations to you and Mahendra on your accomplishments in Baila dancing! And I forgot to mention Patas as one of my early "dance instructors!" Sorry Rajan!
DeleteHi Suri
ReplyDeleteLovely to hear from you and thank you for your comments.
I remember doing the cha cha with you at one of our batch reunions in Hikkaduwa. My brother Kumar who saw us dance said that we kept to time perfectly.
Kanishka Indaratne has told us that at the medical dances you and Mahendra have won the baila competition on many occasions. I would have loved to have seen you and Mahendra doing the Bull Fight Baila. Sounds like a Sri Lankan version of the Paso Doble.
During our short visits to Sri Lanka, Harshi and I too have had lessons from Tony Fernandez. I agree that he is good dance teacher. I still remember Tony telling us that during the rhumba you should never take your foot off the floor. He is also a good dancer and I have seen him waltz very gracefully.
Yes Tony is really good. When I told him that Mahendra and I would like to dance. Cha Cha for the SLMA Doctors Concert, he actually came home to coach us. I also got him to do a Cabaret at the SLMA Annual Dance . He was fantastic !
DeleteThe above comment is from me Suri
ReplyDeleteHi Bora, Yes I remember dancing with you at the Reunion at Hikkaduwa.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to dance when the partner has a good sense of rhythm ! So half the credit goes to you !
Suri
Hello Harsha
ReplyDeleteI watched the video clip of your dancing several times, captivated by its sheer grace, elegance, and sophistication. The seamless lead, the perfect synchronization, and the intuitive understanding between you both were a delight to behold. Every turn was executed with effortless precision. You both remind me of that famous Hollywood pair, Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. They were the King and Queen of Ballroom dancing in the 1930's.
I also loved your wonderful description of those first steps into the world of dancing and how that journey gradually shaped you into such a fine dancer. My congratulations to Harshi as well—her exceptional skill truly shines.
My own journey into dancing was far less glamorous, and at times rather precarious. It all began in 1962/63, in preparation for the Colours Night Dance at King George’s Hall. Mahinda Collure, Lucky Abey, and I decided we needed to learn some steps and build a bit of confidence in ballroom dancing. We certainly couldn’t afford Penny and Veville De Kauwe’s elegant dance school, so instead we found a place down a rather seedy backstreet in Wellawatte. Our instructors were a couple—both enormous lipomas, and when they moved across the wooden floor it felt more like an earthquake ushering in the end of the world. Somehow, we survived.
Before the Colours Night, I attended a house party where many people were dancing. At the time, I was just a slip of a lad, yet I found myself partnered with a rather large girl. Dancing with her felt like pushing a heavily loaded lorry, and her halitosis nearly finished me off. I remember the final dance of the evening, set to the Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night”—a perfect summary of how my night had gone.
Fortunately, my luck improved by the time the Colours Night arrived. I went with my Wattala group—Razaque Ahamath and Bernard Randeniya. The Harold Seneviratne Combo was playing all the favourite tunes, and we ended up having a wonderfully enjoyable evening.
Harshi and Harsha, you are both such beautiful dancers. May you continue to dance together for many more years, bringing joy to yourselves and being an inspiration to everyone who watches you.
Thank you.
Nihal, thank you for sharing your amusing recollections about your forays into ballroom dancing. I applaud you and your friends for your youthful enthusiasm. Well done!
DeleteHello Srianee
DeleteThank you. Glad you like my story of ballroom dancing. Bernard Randeniya came to the dance with his then girl friend, Rangani, who later became his wife. She was always chaperoned by her parents. They were known to me. They brought a huge flask of clear soup which they doled out generously as sustenance to survive the night. Razaque, I have been told was the last to leave the dance floor at the break of dawn. It breaks my heart that Bernard, Rangani, Razaque and Mahendra Collure - none of them are alive today. They were good friends and such wonderful company. May they all rest in peace.
Hi Nihal
DeleteThank you for your encouraging and in-depth comments on our dancing. Much appreciated. You focus on the positives, diplomatically avoiding the negatives. For example, our dance teacher always tells us to look up and not down. At times we both were looking down. Also my armography needed to be tidied up.
Do you watch the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing? You looked at the finer points like one of the judges would.
I’m a big fan of Fred Astaire. I love the music and dancing from the film Top Hat which inspires me.
You mention how you and your mates Mahendra Collure and Lucky Abey took dancing lessons to build up confidence. I too initially lacked confidence on the dance floor; it took me a long time to overcome my inhibitions.
I enjoyed reading about your experiences on the dance floor. I found the Hard Day’s Night story very amusing. It reminded me of the Drifter’s hit, “Save the last dance for me.” Did she save it for you?
Dear Friends, I really enjoyed reading about your escapades in dancing. I was never a ballroom dancer. When we were in medical school, I remember going for classes in dancing to Vewil de Kauwe in Bambalapitiya, together with UVA de Silva and Bertram Nanayakkara.
ReplyDeleteMy only fame for dancing is a striptease dance that I performed at the Badulla Doctors Quarters, during our final year trip in 1966. During the same trip, during the previous night ,I performed a duet with Asoka (Lubber) Wijeyekoon, at the Freemasons Hall in Kurunegala. I was Dr. Argyll Robertson and Lubber was my pupil!
Hi Sanath
DeleteVery pleased that you enjoyed reading the dancing escapades of your batch mates.The Argyll Robertson Pupil act was a clever one and would have been well received.I have seen you do the baila in good rhythm.If you can dance the Baila there is no reason why you cannot do ballroom, come on give it a try.
Hello Bora
ReplyDeleteI must thank Mahendra for sharing the video clip on the blog. Dancing is a wonderful gift—and one you both possess in great abundance.
I still remember how Sidath Jayanetti and JC Fernando stood out from the crowd at King George’s Hall as truly superb dancers. With my deep love for music, I’ve always enjoyed watching people dance. I’ve been an avid fan of Strictly Come Dancing almost since the very beginning of its current format. With my own modest dancing skills, I know I will forever remain an enthusiastic spectator.
My earliest memory of dancing goes back to my ancestral home in Kegalle, perhaps in the late 1940s. Couples danced to Victor Sylvester and his band, playing from 78 RPM records. Many consider him the father of modern ballroom dancing. My most recent experience was just two weeks ago at the plush Ritz Hotel in London, where we celebrated our wedding anniversary with our two sons and their families. The live music and the performances by professional dancers were exceptional.
For many years, every September, we have followed the swallows to southern Spain to enjoy the luxury of autumn sunshine. During those visits, we never missed the chance to watch the beautiful Flamenco dancing. We were also fortunate to see authentic tango—performed in its many styles—at El Viejo Almacén in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Those memories will stay with me forever.
Despite your modesty I must say you both are superb dancers. At our age we must look down as we move for safety. Well done
Hi Nihal
DeleteHow wonderful to celebrate your wedding anniversary with your children at the posh Ritz hotel to live music and dancing. Many years ago I wanted to wine, dine and dance at the Ritz at the regular Friday night event. I made an exploratory visit to the hotel and found out that only two or three couples dance and that live music was provided by a three piece band. I did not pursue this any further. From your experience it appears that things are much improved and we would like to go there with a few friends.
I hope you do not mind me asking you some questions?
Do many people dance and is the space adequate ?
Is it mainly ballroom and latin dancing?
What was the band like?
The professional dancers who performed: were they part of a cabaret ?
Is the dress code formal?
You’re quite right about the risk of falling at our age
We avoid the Viennese Waltz and very complicated steps like double reverse turns.
As so many have given their stories of introduction to dancing, I thought of joining the crowd.
ReplyDeleteAt Royal, it was just Baila or moving body parts in rhythm to music. There were no steps to learn and there was plenty of room to do your own thing provided you kept to the rhythm.
Then came Medical Faculty and my cousin Sidath Jayanetti. That family has regular parties in their beautiful house with a small grand piano and excellent sound system. There were also that new commodity to us growing lads, gorgeous girls! Dancing was a good way of getting close to them with our maturing bodies. On top of that I loved music and took to dancing like a politician to parliament. Cha cha, quickstep, waltz , jive and other fast beats were favourites Apart from these family events Colours nights were major attractions. I never had formal lessons, maybe I should have had. These days I enjoy meeting friends and families at Dances more than the dance itself
Mahen, you are an excellent dancer, but interestingly I have no memories of dancing with you when we were in medical college. I think you were preoccupied with some sweetie who was not in medical college!! But, we had some enjoyable turns around the dance floor at our reunions. I do remember meeting your brother Daya and dancing with him at a one of the university dances. I agree with you that the social aspect of these dance events is also enjoyable, although one has to step outside the main hall to have a meaningful conversation with anyone.
DeleteHi Mahen
DeleteYou have a lot of music in you so it’s no surprise that you took to dancing like a duck to water (I prefer this analogy to an MP to Parliament).
Initially I was wondering whether I should send my video to you. Thanks for your persuasion.
ReplyDeleteNihal’s early experience of dancing had me in stitches ! You were so unlucky then Nihal ! Iam so glad you experienced the glamour of the Ritz getting on to Christmas to make up for it .. I wish you and Chui many happy anniversaries and years of great health and happiness .
My recent conversation with Bunter made me think of my own history -
My passion for dancing began in the most unlikely of places - the Ladies’s College hostel - believe it or not -around 1953/54.
On Saturday evenings hostellers would dress up to dance the night away , with the seniors teaching us juniors the waltz, the foxtrot, the polka, a simple tango etc . The seniors were a lovely bunch who probably had older siblings from whom they themselves learned and lead us on the floor very effectively and enjoyably. The music was in part from a wound up gramophone and some by accomplished pianist seniors .
I enjoyed the dancing so much it became the highlight of my entire hostel experience of two school terms .
Once my parents moved to Colombo , to Flower Terrace -just two minutes walk from school, my passion took the form of twisting, jiving, rocking and rolling to Elvis Presley blairing from a portable player brought in to the College backyard by my one of my friends. For me there was no better way to spend my lunch hour . We could have rocked around the clock, we had such fun.
Our PE teacher Miss Ingleton who also taught ballet , taught us Square dancing at half time through PE. I remember being in the square with Sriani Dissanayake who revelled in it as much as I did . Bunter , do you remember?
As an adult I joined my cousin who was engaged to be married , to attend De Kauwe’s weekend Sundown dances , when I had the privilege of dancing with De Kauwe himself and can count them as some of the best ballroom experiences of my life.
I attended a block dance only once- in my very first year in med school, but enjoyed dancing to Mignon and the Jetliners at the Coconut Grove quite frequently.
The cruise ships were another great place to learn the newer modes of dancing and to enjoy them in the evenings decked in all one’s glamour! My gratitude to Ana who whirled me around many a dance floor worldwide. The understanding of one’s partner is of the utmost importance in dancing well as we’ve seen in Boras clip.
Bunter, thanks for making me reminisce- you will be unstoppable once you put on your dancing shoes !
Hello Rohini
DeleteI enjoyed the story of your passion for dancing in the LC hostel and its progression through the years. They are wonderful memories to cherish. Mignone and the Jetliners were a hit in those days. Rock and Roll had just given way to the Beatles and the likes of Elvis and Tony Brent. In our teenage years music had a certain magic and dancing was such fun. Then careers and bringing up kids got in the way. When they left the nest the years had taken its toll and much of the magic of dancing had waned. What comes to mind is a quote from George Bernard Shaw:
"Dancing is a perpendicular expression of a horizontal desire." It is that desire I called "the magic of dancing" which comes with an expiry date. As the years roll by dancing is still great fun. Cruising on big ships was indeed a great opportunity to let the hair down and dance.
"Bailar" in Portuguese mean dancing. It was they who brought that rhythmic music in to Ceylon. I love to dance the baila after a few shots of the amber nectar. Thats the nearest I can get to heaven on earth. Some of the best uninhibited baila dancing I have seen has been at the Men's Common Room in the faculty on those fun evenings. Once I danced on the bridge table to the chagrin of the bridge players!!! Lucky Abey had the unenviable task of taking me home to Nugegoda to my grandparents who never slept until I returned home. How they accepted my mischievous mannerisms is another story waiting to be told.
Where have all those years gone?.
Hi Rohini
DeleteEnjoyed reading about your passion for dancing.The cocoanut Grove was one of our favourite places on a Sunday night.We too have been on many cruises and what we enjoyed most was the dancing to a live band.
Agree , understanding the partners movements is very important and makes the dance flow smoothly but always it is the man who leads.Sometimes Harshi forgets this basic rule and tries to lead and I have got used to temporarily adjusting.
Bora beware ! Is gender equity hitting the dance floor !!
DeleteRohini, I'm glad our phone conversation jogged your memory. What lovely memories of a carefree childhood. I do remember learning square dancing with Mrs. Ingleton. Square dancing is rather popular in the US, and there were a few occasions when my American friends were quite surprised that I was familiar with the 'Do Si Do' and the 'Promenade.' (That's all I can remember now!)
ReplyDeleteOne New Year's Eve I was persuaded by Rajan (Patas) to join a bunch of friends at the NY Eve dance at the Colombo Rowing Club. My mother was not too happy because our family tradition up until then was to attend the 'Watch Night Service' at Christ Church, Galle Face! I remember that the dance was fun!
Rohini, I forgot to ask you, should my dancing shoes be Nikes or Hokas? 🤣
DeleteBunter , If thats all the footwear available in sunny SL - a whisper in Bora’s ear might temporarily secure you a pair of Harshi’s stilettos 🤫
DeleteRohini, The trouble is I may topple off those stilettos!! (You know I'm pulling your leg- literally!)
DeleteBunter if you pull too hard it may spell the end of my dancing days while you are happily strutting on your stilettos !
DeleteOne of the most interesting aspects of dancing is that it is a part of all cultures throughout the world and even goes back to prehistoric times. I learnt that dancing was an important aspect of human communication before language was invented. I am not too sure how both music and dancing involve rhythmic responses. I think that when we receive sensory input in the form of music (which has a tempo, rhythm and repetitive pattern) we automatically provide a motor response in synchrony. Dancing and music must have developed in tandem. Culturally, music and dancing are important ways of encouraging social cohesion and cooperative behaviour. It is therefore no surprise that all human beings througout history and in widely deferring geographical spread, took to dancing - the only exception being those who are dead! Even that is not correct because In Madagascar, families perform a "turning of the bones" ceremony, exhuming bodies, dancing with them, and then re-interring them.
ReplyDeleteInteresting information, Mahen, about people dancing with the dead in Madagascar.
DeleteIn Chile, the women protested the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet by dancing in the town squares with photographs of their missing and dead husbands, fathers and sons. Sting composed and sang a song about them called "They Dance Alone." It's a beautiful haunting song. (Pinochet was arrested while in London in 1998 on charges of many human rights violations.). I'm listening to the song while writing this!
Hi All, Virginia here
ReplyDeleteAs Mrs Timmy Ingleton was mentioned, I might add that she was my father's first cousin ( Timmy Swan) and I together with Susan attended her ballet school at her home on Galle Road Colpetty
Those were the days in the mid to late 50's when rock and roll, Bill Haley and Elvis was all the rage
Full rock n roll skirts with frilled layered petticoats were wonderful as we swirled around the dance floor at the Otters Club & together with John at the Little Hut and the Blue Leopard night clubs,
What a wonderful adolescence!
Hi Virginia, great to see you here! Are you in touch with Timmy Ingleton's children, Michael and Gillian? Michael is a good friend of my brother Eksith, and had visited Sri Lanka recently. I think I missed him by a few weeks. I have finally made the big move back to my roots (and extended family). No regrets. Still unpacking though...
DeleteBelow from Rohini
DeleteLovely to see you back Virginia- I also learned ballet from
ReplyDeleteMs Ingleton though I didn’t have to visit her studio at Colpetty . She taught a few of us at LC after school in our PE hall - not part of the school curriculum. It was only for a brief period ,until my parents decided it wasn’t becoming of their teenage daughter to be strutting around in a tutu ! A small world it is ! Hope you are here to stay .
Hi Srianee
ReplyDeleteSadly, I haven't been in contact with either Michael or Gillian. The last time I had contact with Michael was when I was teenager and partnered him in a rock n roll contest at the Otters; being the professional dancer that he was/is he told me I was missing a beat in the rhythm! We were placed second...... good enough for me! I believe Michael lives in Queensland.
I haven't met Gillian for maybe 12 years .I don't travel much these days days and meeting old friends is a rarity.
Glad you are happy to be back to your roots.
Virginia