André David has inherited a legacy worth having. The son of Mary Anne and Andrew David of the Merry-An Singers, André was introduced to the stage as a five-year-old and has never found anyplace else he’d rather be.
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| André David |
But he’s like his parents in more ways than one. Having just become a father for the second time, André is ready to found his own academy and become a teacher in his own right. DAPA – David Academy of Performing Arts – owes its name in part to André’s desire to leave it to his children, should they wish to carry on the family business. It’s obvious he’s thinking far ahead.
However, whatever his plans are, we’re not privy to them all yet. Delighted with himself, André says he’s keeping his “secrets,” but DAPA will wander into entirely virgin territory for a Sri Lankan performing arts company. That he intends to teach theatre, dance and music under the same roof is in itself somewhat unusual, only a handful of other local companies have attempted the same. “My students will learn how to dance, sing and act equally well,” he says. Having spent the last four years training local bands and aspiring pop stars, he believes there’s plenty of scope for musical theatre as well.
André who has done much of the choreography for his mother’s choir, and knows tap dance among other dance forms, says he hopes to communicate a love of the performing arts to his students. He’s also determined to give them a chance to showcase their hard earned skills. DAPA, he promises, will stage at least two large shows a year, and its pupils will meet his exacting standards. Though he intends to audition those who want to join his group sessions, individual classes are available for all. Initially, Andre says he will restrict the age group to above 8 and below 25.
As it stands, the academy will operate at two or more locations – tentatively Kohuwela and Moratuwa to start with, followed by Rajagiriya and Bataramulla - beginning this September. André intends to play to his strengths. He’d like to teach rock, pop music and modern jazz – “all the stuff mom doesn’t like to teach” – to young adults. In tribute to his own training, however, he intends to give his pupils a foundation in classical singing. ‘Bel Canto’ (beautiful singing) is his chosen approach.
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DAPA is the result of André’s determination to marry artist with businessman – “one with the other is an excellent mix.” In the decade that he’s spent dreaming of his own academy, he realised that financial success was a key part of realising his vision. Having studied psychology and physiotherapy at the American National College he decided he’d rather give the project his all. “I’ve been dreaming about it for so long...this time I decided to just ignore all those barriers,” he explains, adding that his wife Dinali has helped bolster his decision to ignore the naysayers.
With the full support of his parents, he intends to continue as a Deputy Director for the Merry-An Singers, and says he hopes that his parents will help with DAPA. (His father Andréw David is noted thespian). “I first began teaching ten years ago, “says André, saying that his 17-year-old self had much to learn from his mother. Now, speaking of his decision to follow in her footsteps, he says he knows it’s the right one. A performer is often forced to retire, where a teacher can continue. “When you’re a teacher, you can teach for a long time...you can pass on what you have,” he says. |
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