nATANDA Dance Theatre of Sri Lanka - Frangipani: Shelter

Choreography, costume and lighting design
by Kapila Palihawadana
Web: www.natanda.lk

FRANGIPANI is a new dance production from nATANDA inspired by the Araliya flower, commonly called the Plumeria by many English speakers. This flower is traditionally associated with the temple in both Hindu and Buddhist culture. In Sri Lanka, it may also be found at such conspicuous sites as the Presidents house and the cemeteries where, according to myth, the white and yellow blossom provides shelter to ghosts and demons.

When speaking of the frangipani, people tend to think of it as a simple flower, however the frangipani evokes an intermingling of feelings. Though the tree is modest, seldom more than three meters in height, the five-petal flower is used in opposing ways for either its poisonous milky sap, which the Akie tribes in Tanzania use to coat their hunting arrows, or for its association with love in Polynesian cultures where it acts as a symbol of love-longing or wedlock if worn over the right or left ear. The frangipani tree may also be deceptive for luring sphinx moths to pollinate its flowers that have no nectar.

This production uses body language to personify the frangipani flower in its strong, weak and mild manifestations. The performance intends to deepen the audiences understanding of nature and enrich an appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the environment.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• natanda
• frangipani
• modern
• dance

[malanfrk]

wow actuly grate dance