The Sunday Times Mirror - A dancer’s world

In a continuation from last week's choices in Dance Education, veteran ballet dancer and teacher Niloufer Pieris of the Nelung Dance Academy offers some perspectives on classical ballet and contemporary dance and the personality that makes it in a dancer's world.

Dance of all kinds holds a fascination for most people. Moving to music comes from an inner impulse and is natural. Serious Dance Training is however very different and at present options for a serious training in classical ballet and contemporary dance are not available in Sri Lanka. Annual examinations are conducted by the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) offering two streams, the graded examinations for the non-professional pupil who may attend classes twice a week and the vocational stream, which although is physically more challenging and demanding, does not prepare one for a professional dance company.

Potential and talent
Former pupil Rohan Dunham was the rare exception. His air of determination at age six plus was endearing, startling and unusual. It became obvious very quickly that Rohan had the necessary qualities to train professionally, long straight legs, beautifully arched feet, slender body and above all, an excellent brain. His ability to quickly grasp steps, accept corrections and work extremely hard was telling of his potential and talent.

Discipline, dedication, determination and desire
Good academic levels and musical ability complemented his dance ability. One cannot dance without discipline, dedication, determination and desire. He showed all these qualities at age eight. From the beginning both parents took a keen interest in Rohan's progress, and needed very little convincing to give him the chance to train professionally. At age nine Rohan auditioned and was accepted by the Koniglicher Conservatoruim, Hague, Holland (equivalent to England's Royal Ballet School) which is a full-time vocational school where the study of music, dance and the visual arts are combined with academic schoolwork. Here, the student attends classes in the University stream together with a daily Dance programme in a day, which in the dancer's case starts at 7 a.m. and finishes at 7 p.m. It's certainly not for the weak-hearted!

What lies ahead?
For Rohan, once he finishes his academic studies, he will follow a two-year programme of full time dancing - i.e. all day and as many classes as possible, within the range of Classical Ballet, Contemporary (Graham technique), Jazz, Character, Pas De-Deux (partnering) Music and Chorographic Studies, which will prepare him for auditions for a company. The training is and must be, long and arduous to prepare young dancers for the rigors of a Dance Company and hopefully an injury-free career.

Exciting work with chorographers, musicians and artistes together with colleagues from every part of the world, with opportunities to travel make a career in Dance very attractive. However, the bottom line is, it is always hard work.

Hint
Every major Dance School and Company worldwide has a website! So if you are serious about studying dance, get cracking and do your home work. It's never too early to start!