PRESENTS 03rd & 04th November 2023 Bishops College Auditorium
Welcome to "Joy of Dance" by The Ballet School of Colombo. We are thrilled to be back on stage, performing for all of you. We've eagerly awaited this moment, so we hope you bask in our excitement today. "Joy of Dance" is a vibrant display of creativity and movement. Staying true to our roots, we begin the evening with the full-length ballet of "Hansel and Gretel," a beloved fairy tale with our unique creative twist. Infusing the gracefulness of classical ballet with the quirky steps of tap dance, our students bring to life the adventures of a brother and sister who become lost in the woods and encounter dancing woodland creatures, a mystical moon, the Sandman, a magnificent House of Sweets, a sinister witch, and an unforgettable escape plan. For the second half of the show, our talented senior students will "set the stage on fire" with breathtaking performances in dance styles such as jazz, tap, lyrical, and contemporary. A big thank you to all our sponsors, partners, and afiiliates for supporting the arts and arts education, making our event a fantastic success and giving us the opportunity to continue providing a world class education of this timeless artform. A special thank you to all the wonderful parents who have been supporting us and our students on their ballet journey from day one, by bringing them to regular practices, countless costume fittings, and, of course, the many rehearsals. To our dancers, we hope this has been a rewarding and fun experience. We are proud of how hard you have all worked to make this show a success. Have a fantastic night and enjoy the show! Romina, Tara, Nadine, Janindu, Shalini, and Anitra.
Classical Ballet Programs Romina Gyi Nadine Shums Anitra Gunaratne Jazz, Contemporary, Lyrical Programs Tara Cooke Shalini De Mel Tap Dancing Programs Janindu Ranasinghe Ballet for Adults programs Shalini De Mel Anitra Gunaratne Assistant Teachers Shenelle Arasaratnam Ashmita Shriharan Kyra Wafa Udamsha Jayasooriya Choreography by Tara Cooke Nadine Shums Romina Gyi Ofiice Team Kathryn Pereira and team Accounts & Finance Nimmi Karunarathne and team Backstage Crew Dilki Serpanchy Evangeline De Rose Sarathi Thudugala Uzmila Fayaz Shafra Mohamed Janine Vanigasooriya Anjali Thalayasingam Pradeepika Mathew Maureen Stephen Hiranthi Wijesekera Shayani Obeysekera Charles Pereira Daniele Paoletti Front of House Crew Randy Serpanchy Jovan De Rose Priyanka Holsinger Manjeev de Mel Sheran Cooke Hisham Shums Tenara Thudugala Dinaya Gomez Yenuli Rupasinghe Jason Serpanchy Dulara Perera The Ballet School Team
Partners Custodian of Ballet Patron of Arts Donors of Dance Altruists Benefactors
" The Sabrina Yusoof Foundation (SYF) was created in my late wife’s memory to continue the impact her thoughtful and caring personality made and to honor the kind and generous work she was doing. The core focus of SYF is supporting programs that support gender equality, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, and poverty alleviation. This sponsorship is made personally by myself on behalf of Saby and her Foundation, as I know that she would want nothing more than to support her little angel and all the other little angels out there making moves on the dance floor. " Reza Magdon-Ismail Director, Sabrina Yusoof Foundation
Dear Tara and The Ballet School of Colombo, On behalf of everyone at Australian Presence Legal, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the talented students for their enthralling performances at The Joy of Dance. Whilst we couldn't attend in person, we are certain that your grace, passion, and skill lit up the stage, reflecting the dedicated guidance of your teachers. Tara, your commitment to cultivating the arts is truly commendable, and we are honored to support your significant work at The Ballet School of Colombo. At Australian Presence Legal, we specialise in aiding individuals and corporations in seamlessly transitioning to Australia. Our expert team diligently navigates immigration and business incorporation, ensuring a smooth and supportive journey to new beginnings down under. In this spirit, we genuinely hope that some of your exceptional performers will one day call Australia home, and grace the stages of the Sydney Opera House, contributing their exquisite artistry to our vibrant cultural panorama. Thank you for allowing us to be part of this magnificent event. We look forward to continuing our support and witnessing the boundless growth and success of your esteemed school. Warm regards, Shanil Nanayakkara Director Australian Presence Legal
‘Children represent our future, and every parent's aspiration is to provide them with the very best. Back to Origins collaborates with the Colombo Ballet School to achieve this mission and more. Our dedication goes beyond reviving our ancient culinary heritage; each product is meticulously craffed from all-natural ingredients. You can trust that Back to Origins products are free from artificial flavors, preservatives, MSG, or stock powder. Furthermore, our ofierings undergo rigorous audits and certifications by Control Union, ensuring their quality and authenticity. We proudly hold certifications as a plant-based brand (USA) and the exclusive Sri Lankan recipient of Control Union's 360-degree sustainability(Netherlands). At the core of our concept lies "Right Livelihood," a steadfast commitment to avoid practices that harm people and the environment. We actively raise awareness and empower individuals with knowledge about healthier dietary choices, envisioning a society where well-being and sustainability prevail as the standard. In summary, Back to Origins spearheads a movement dedicated to fostering a healthier, more sustainable, and compassionate world. Our unwavering commitment drives us to continue contributing to the creation of a healthier society, recognizing the pivotal role parents play in this transformative journey. We extend our best wishes and heartfelt congratulations to all the aspiring ballerinas for a bright future ahead!’ Rasika Perera Founder
Concert Program First Half - Hansel and Gretel Scene 1 A happy bustling street. Enter Hansel and Gretel with their parents who are out for a walk, when the two children are given some coins to go and buy food for the household. As they immerse in merriment, a group of travelling Gypsies perform and entertain the bystanders. When all of a sudden, a whip of thunder and a flash of lightning is heard in the distance sending shivers through the happy crowd. A commotion, a giggle, a scream, a scare is heard. All at once the Witch’s minions come down the road creating havoc along their path making way for the “Candy Lady”. But don’t let the fancy cart full of delicious treats fool you, as she did Hansel and Gretel, for she is none other than the wicked witch who is out to lure her next victim. Scene 2 Ofi they go, brother and sister, excited to show Mom and Dad the sweets they bought from the mysterious Candy Lady. Needless to say their mother is not happy, and in her rage she chases Hansel and Gretel out of the house for she can not believe what they have done with the little money they had saved for food. Scene 3 Scared and hungry, the children venture into the woods in the hopes of keeping themselves distracted until it's safe to return home. Gretel drops a trail of breadcrumbs hoping that it will lead them back home safely. Unknowingly, they venture further and further into the forest, playing with bunnies, encountering dancing hedgehogs. Night falls gradually, making way for a host of fireflies that light the path and the stars shine bright, as the brilliant moon, dances in the night sky. Tired of walking, the two hungry children break their journey near a log, when Sandman appears and sends them ofi into a deep slumber. While the kids are fast asleep, out pops the cheeky squirrels who feast on the breadcrumbs.
Scene 4 Morning dawns, awakening the children to new hope and possibility, only to discover the trail of breadcrumbs that could lead them home has disappeared. Distraught and starving, the children try to find their way back, when lo and behold, they stumble upon a clearing with the most spectacular sight. Could this be real? A house made entirely out of sweets, and the fence, gingerbreads! The sweets are fast asleep but come to life as soon as they see the children and welcome them into the house. Overjoyed and overwhelmed with hunger the children enter the House of Sweets to find a spectacular sugary bufiet awaiting them. Marzipans, Peppermints, Candyfloss, Chocolate Drops…. Have you ever seen such a variety?The children notice a familiar face. It's the Candy Lady! As she invites them to feast, a feeling of unease comes over Gretel. She can’t help but wonder why the Candy Lady lives in a place like this in the middle of the woods. How is she making all these sweets come alive? And why is Hansel acting so strangely? As the House of Sweets and all the dancing candy fly into a whirlwind of chaos, the Candy Lady reveals her true nature! She’s a terrifying Witch who's known to turn children into tasty snacks. Let's run away……. It’s too late. her children are trapped!
Scene 5 Oh no! The Witch has found her next meal. The Witch locks Hansel in a cage and begins to fatten him up, and a mischief of mice who help the Witch, join in, to torment Hansel. Gretel in the meantime is forced to do household chores and make food for her brother. Scared for their lives, the two children think of a way to escape, when they notice the Witch falling asleep in a corner. Taking the chance, Gretel sneaks over to where she is sleeping, gets the key and releases her brother from the cage. They rejoice and hurry out of the house but get distracted by the Gingerbread fence and stop for a quick snack. The Witch awakens from her slumber to find the children gone. Panicked, she rushes out of the house and sees them eating the fence. The Witch, Hansel and Gretel embark on a cat-and-mouse game, resulting in Gretel getting caught. Hansel lures the Witch back inside by showing her that he still has the key to the oven. In hot pursuit, the Witch tries to grab the key when Gretel rushes over to the oven and opens the door. Hansel, seizing the opportunity, lures the Witch closer to the oven and tosses the key right inside. In jumps, the Witch, to meet a fiery demise. CODA (CONCLUSION) Rejoicing at their victory, the children run out of the house as fast as they can, and they meet their parents who have been scouring the woods looking for them. The family rejoices as the story comes to a happy ending. CURTAIN CALL INTERMISSION
Second Half Grand Valse Paint the Town Red With the Beat She…the Warrior! Patterns in motion Jazz it Tap it Up Babylon is Burning
Hansel and Gretel Hansel Okitha Karunadhara (3rd November) J. A. Supushpika Jayakody (4th November) Gretel Shenelle Arasaratnam Witch Anitra Gunaratne Mother Janindu Ranasinghe Father Kyra Wafa Moon Ashmita Sriharan Sandman Lasandi MatharaArachchi Night K W Akash Nadun Madhuwantha Susantha Koralegedara S. K. P. Main Chocolate Drops Main Candyfloss Kiara Wijewardene Kyra Wafa Main Marzipan Shalini de Mel Bunnies Abilashya Diyasandi Aadviga Ranjithkumar Aimi Abeywardana Alessandria Abayasinghe Amnah Deen Aryan Ranasinghe Chanudi Wijesinghe Chenuli Kumarasinghe Delinda Ebert Denuri Ramanayake Dhiyanah Kottegoda Dineli Fernando Diyana Kodikara Diyesha Jayasinghe Harini Prashana Ithara Fernando Kiara Thamanegama Lisa Muttukumaru Mellisai Reshzankan Methuli Wijesiri Nikini Kulasekara Oneki Dananjaya Oneshi Senanayake Rashel Relegha Rhaya Jayamaha Sansa Abeyweera Shanaya Seneviratne Shavona Seneviratne Shenaya Gamarachchi Sineli Bopegoda Tashi Dissanayake Tavinya Guruge Thejal Mahendran Thevni Karunaratne Uhana Vithanage Yaana Nanayakkara Yaheli Fernando Cast List Ashmita Sriharan Ovindee Rajapakse
Hedgehogs Aavya Gunathunga Amrita Maria Panagoda Angela Wimalasooriya Arushya Sirimalwatte Aurora Forero Midkifi Chanuki Dissanayake Hasini Hesanya Inuli Weerasekara Layla Magdon Ismail Liana Fernando Maya Paoletti Rayeli Dias Samarah Kottegoda Sasha De Silva Sehansa Disanayaka Sethumdee Kodagoda Shanuli Weerasekara Sheranya Samarasekera Tahali Beneregama Tara Ariyasena Teyalie Rodrigo Vethuli Wijesiri Stars Amelie Magedaragamage Anuki Weerasooriya Ayushi Ekanayake Binuthi Gamage Chanuthi Subasinghe Chenuki Kosgallana Clara Kumarasinghege Dinuki Jayawickrama Diyansha Perera Emilia Wickramatilaka Gihansa Egodagama Hasali Thilakarathna Kayal Parthiban Kithnara Warnakulasooriya Kiyara Thabrew Lisakya Thilakaratne Maleena Pereira Meriah Athithan Mineli Thilakaratne Minudi Kuruwitaarachchi Nisheli Iranya Perera Nuha Shums Nuveena Lowe Ranulya Wanigasekera Sanuthi Dahanayake Sayuni Wellalage Sethuki Wanniarachchi Sharah Shakthi Shera Harini Makumbura Thimendri Muthugala Thosara Nemdini Tiyana Abeysekera Vera Magallege Viheli Hettitantirige Fireflies Ahasma Nanayakkara Areli Andrahannadi Dhiyankkha Vithyagaran Emma Perera Enara Godawatta Eshmitha Perera Hiru Liyanage Kethya Bandara Lianne Jayasooriya Mineli Liyanage Minudi Gamage Nithara Subramaniam Oneki Herath Pranidi Gunathilake Rianne Weerasekara Omara Liyanage Shadna Ramachandran Shayma Jisty Sheatra Slemmermann Sofiyyah Salie Tinalee Amarananda Vinuli Dulansa Yanuli Bandusena
Friends Girls Adhya De Silva Aysha Fahim Chanuli Gunawardana Maddison Benedict Nayooshi Meedin Reshma Senaratne Ruanna Dias Vethumya Perera Boys Akeesa Jayasinghe Analya Fernando Jenuli Jayamanna Kehara Jayasekara Neili Ruwanpathirana Sandumi Sathsarani Sanindee Kodagoda Senara De Alwis Gypsies Amodya Hirumi Muthuli Kathriarachchi Nelinsa Wijenayake Thenuli Dasanayakage Witch’s Minions Girls Atira Mohotti Darya Kumarasiri Hana Farook Jemimah De Rose Jordan De Rose Nerya Mohotti Nikshi Jeevabalan Raghavardhini Prassanavarun Vikhiz Bharucha Boy Daniel Pereira Rafael Pereira Squirrels Amodya Hirumi Aryana Colonne Ayansa Perera Hana Farook Mikella Sreenivas Muthuli Kathriarachchi Nelinsa Wijenayake Oneli De Costa Shenuli Loku Kaluge Tahirah Muthalif Mice Chaithree Pathirana Chithuli Almeida Jesandi Gallage Johanna Tarmendira Kalki Perera Mihali Paranahewa Nadja Amarasekera Nethuli Nimnadya Ruwee Weerasekera Santhushi Paranahewa Sehasna De Alwis Sierra Amarasekera Thinuli Jayasinghe Vilokya de Silva Vritika Ananth Yenuli Methumsa Zayna Ahamed Zoe Fernando
Gingerbread Ayuni Bandara Denuli Dinethma Kenudi Perera Kenuli Perera Keyana Faith Minadi Amarasekera Muthuli de Silva Ovashini Sudeshkumar Riyana Fernando Roanne Diyansa Saranya Perera Sasha Gunathilake Savenya Sivendran Thisavi Wickramasinghe Thooba Nazmi Yahara Weeraratne Yenuli Sasithma Candyfloss Amsshana Amuthakumar Hashmi Ryan Mikeilla Wijesuriya Olivia Nieves Viradha Karunakaran Marzipans Chaagi Weerasekera Khiara Nagasinghe Melody Dissanayake Nethuki Dodanwela Sehasna Samaranayaka Chocolate Drops Keziah Lakshendrakumar Nethasha Narangoda Niwya Mallawarachchi Shiaya Shimry Siyumi Jayawardena Udamsha Jayasooriya Peppermints Lasandi MatharaArachchi Vonara Kiribathgoda Spirits K W Akash Nadun Madhuwantha D. Anushka Madhuranga M. H. Harun Suseru Ferose U. G. Kanishka Prasad J. A. Supushpika Jayakody Susantha Koralegedara S. K. P. Second Half Grand Valse Anitra Gunaratne Ashmita Sriharan Chaagi Weerasekera Keziah Lakshendrakumar Khiara Nagasinghe Kiara Wijewardene Kyra Wafa Lasandi MatharaArachchi Melody Dissanayake Nethuki Dodanwela Ovindee Rajapakse Sehasna Samaranayaka Siyumi Jayawardena Shalini de Mel Shenelle Arasaratnam Udamsha Jayasooriya Amodya Hirumi Aryana Colonne Hana Farook Mikella Sreenivas Muthuli Kathriarachchi Nelinsa Wijenayake Oneli De Costa Shenuli Loku Kaluge Tahirah Muthalif Thenuli Dasanayakage K W Akash Nadun Madhuwantha U. G. Kanishka Prasad J. A. Supushpika Jayakody D. Anushka Madhuranga
Paint the town RED! Amritaya Silva Avanthi Seneviratne Chaminda Ranasinghe Chinthaka Ranatunga Dayani Abeysekera Dila Weerasinghe Fairly Liyanage Imanka Kuruppu Lakshila Wanigasinghe Manjari Tennakoon Nipunika Muhandiramge Rashmi Silva Scerena Dirckze Shalini de Mel Shihara Bin Sadoon Thilakshini Ratnayake Tishani Ashinsa Udumbara Sevwandi Kumari Vayomi Von Haght Yulie Liyanage With the Beat Janindu Ranasinghe She…..the Warrior Anitra Gunaratne Ashmita Sriharan Chaagi Weerasekera Kyra Wafa Lasandi MatharaArachchi Nethasha Narangoda Ovindee Rajapakse Shenelle Arasaratnam Siyumi Jayawardena Jazz it Anitra Gunaratne Ashmita Sriharan Lasandi MatharaArachchi Shalini de Mel Shenelle Arasaratnam Tap it Up! Fran de Cock Katy Pereira Kyra Wafa Leiankha Perera Michelle Hervy Sachi Premarathna Sharon De Silva Patterns in Motion K. W. Akash Nadun Madhuwantha D. Anushka Madhuranga M. H. Harun Suseru Ferose U. G. Kanishka Prasad J. A. Supushpika Jayakody Susantha Koralegedara S. K. P. Okitha Karunadhara
Babylon is Burning Anitra Gunaratne Ashmita Sriharan Avanthi Seneviratne Chaminda Ranasinghe D. Anushka Madhuranga Dayani Aneysekera Dila Weerasinghe Fairly Liyanage Imanka Kuruppu J. A. Supushpika Jayakody K. W. Akash Nadun Madhuwantha Keziah Lakshendrakumar Khiara Nagasinghe Kiara Wijewardene Kyra Wafa Lakshila Wanigasinghe Lasandi MatharaArachchi M. H. Harun Suseru Ferose Manjari Tennakoon Nipunika Muhandiramge Okitha Karunadhara Ovindee Rajapakse Rashmi Silva Scerena Dirckze Sehasna Samaranayaka Shalini de Mel Shenelle Arasaratnam Shihara Bin Sadoon Susantha Koralegedara S. K. P. Tishani Ashinsa U. G. Kanishka Prasad Udamsha Jayasooriya Vayomi Von Haght Yulie Liyanage CURTAIN CALL END OF JOY OF DANCE
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