By Anura Gunasekera

Lyceum International Schools delivered its 13th edition of “Maathra“, a composite of opera, dance and theatre, at the BMICH premises, on October 12. It was an in-house creation, produced by Lyceum teachers specializing in dance, theatre and allied disciplines, and performed entirely by students selected from of the Lyceum group of schools.

When the first edition of the event was displayed to the public in 2008, it is unlikely that the organizers would have envisaged its impact on viewers, and the sense of anticipation it would go on to create in the minds of the public, year after year; nor that it would re-invent itself with each performance, reaching new levels of excellence with each successive year. That is an aspect the writer can personally vouch for, not having missed a performance since its inception.

Maathra is a rich, multi-faceted tapestry, an auditory and visual feast, woven from local narratives, folk tales, traditional dances, myths and legends, values and beliefs, and segments of the country’s rich history. It is a composite of the cultural and historical diversity that is Sri Lanka.

Maathra showcases and promotes this enchanting variety, exploring through each individual performance, the aesthetic and rhythmic elements that distinguish Sri Lankan art forms, whilst projecting the historical content. By engaging with such a broad spectrum of cultural aspects, Maathra makes a significant contribution to the broader conversation about our national identity, and inculcates in the performers and viewers, pride in that identity, and the cultural and historical wealth this country has to offer.

In a highly globalized society, connected by instant communication which indiscriminately transmits, and glamorizes, both the vulgar and the tasteful, Maathra reminds viewers that, in meaning and value, what this country possesses is absolutely unique in richness and depth. Maathra is a performance which helps all those involved, audience and participants, to re-anchor themselves to that cultural wealth, which constitute our national roots and foundation. Maathra is not just about dance, theatre and music, but also about who we Sri Lankans are. The performances cut across racial, religious and cultural divides, and embraced the national community as a whole.

The selection of themes of the latest edition was clearly designed with the above in view.

“Sigiri“, the story of the parricide king, Kashyapa, celebrated the matchless grandeur of the fortress in the sky and the cloud-maidens who adorned it, whilst “Devadasi” introduced to the audience, an ancient temple service tradition with South Indian roots. “Gaadi”, recreated vignettes of the life-style of the diminished Hulawaly community, decades ago very much part of our national landscape, whilst “Andare”, the court jester of the Sinhala kings, evoked much laughter.

“Hiru Kule” revived a fascinating legend of our roots and depicted king Ravana at his menacing best and “Tikiri Kumaru”, took the audience back to the youth of warrior king, Rajasinghe the First. “Hansa” , recalled the brilliant literary tradition of “Sandesa” poetry and “Siri Dalada”, paid homage to the sacred Tooth Relic. ‘Manikyabhiman,” was a tribute to the treasure-laden land and the gem-mining tradition of Sabaragamuwa, and “Isurumuni”, a special performance by the Lyceum alumni, brought to life the ancient lovers cast in stone.

“Nertha Yaathra” traced the evolution of traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka, and its enrichment through other influences, especially the gradual inclusion of women performers in a previously male-dominated tradition. “Siv Hela Rakun” was an accolade to the legendary origins of our nation, from the ” Yakka, Naga, Deva and Raksha”

Each item did not last more than a few minutes but the illustration of the themes, through song, dance and music, in a brilliant fusion of traditional dance styles and contemporary balletic forms, offered to the audience, vivid and unmistakable depictions of each theme.

This production of ‘Maathra” brought together 68 dedicated teachers and 762 students. A feature of the production was the wide age range of the performers. Each item constituted of at least 40 performers, ranging in age from pre-teens to late teens. Some of the performers had grown and matured in dance with the event itself, participating in at least seven to eight consecutive performances over a decade.

The event, in its totality, was conceived and led by the dynamic duo, Rasika and Nisha Kotalawela, under the guidance of Dr.Mohan Lal Grero and Dr. Mrs Kumari Grero. In fact, it is the Kotalawela duo, who have been responsible for the Maathra production from the very first instance.

The beautiful melodies which accompanied each item had been produced by renowned artists, whilst the glittering costumes, inspired by strictly traditional motifs, crafted by leading designers.

A production, involving over a 1.000 people, mostly high-spirited children, requires intricate planning, which actually begins anew, immediately, on completion of each show ! The seamless progression of items, moving from one to the other with hardly a break, with clock-work precision, despite the complex choreography, was testament to the competence of the organizing group, and the discipline of the performers themselves. The fluid coordination within and between performances, belies the fact that the cast had been assembled, just for this event, from eight Lyceum branches across five provinces.

The performance was graced by many prominent figures from the cultural, dance and theatre communities of the island. Undoubtedly, the proudest would have been the parents of the performers, watching their children displaying such virtuosity.

Lyceum International takes pride in providing appropriate platforms for its students to showcase their talents and skills. As ‘Maathra” has demonstrated each year, despite an international school’s customary detachment from national educational curricula, disciplines rooted in national culture clearly receive priority attention at Lyceum. This ensures that wherever they are as adults, the children of Lyceum remain firmly anchored to the culture which bred them.

The significance of Maathra transcends its attraction as a colourful pageant. It has a much deeper meaning and an impact. Whilst receiving an international education which prepares them for higher education abroad, the students of Lyceum, as ambassadors of our national culture, take with them, to other universities, to other lands, and to other nations, the message of our rich national heritage. That is Lyceum International School’s service to the nation.