“He is both the calm and the storm, a leaf that gently falls upon the water, and a hurricane that shatters the silence”
The Man
Hailing from a lineage of traditional dancers, drummers, and temple painters, Ravibandhu, as the eighth generation representation, began his artistic journey at the age of twelve. The spectrum of art forms he was exposed to, from both his maternal and paternal lineages sowed the seed of his versatility. The late SomabandhuVidyapathy, Ravibandhu’s father, was a pioneering visual artiste of the 20th century. The costumes and stage sets designed by Somabandhu for ballets and dance creations of Chitrasena and other masters of the yesteryear such as W. B. Makuloluwa, Ediriweera Sarachchandra and Panibharatha are creations discussed to date. The late Malathi Algama, Ravibandhu’s mother, and the daughter of the late Algama Kiriganitha Guru, has been his very first inspiration to pursue dance professionally. During his tenure as a student of Gurus Chitrasena and Vajira, Ravibandhu made a name for himself as a young artiste, playing lead roles in all their ballets and dance productions, imbibing the intricacies of the art of choreography. Soon after being donned with the traditional Kandyan ‘Ves’ dance costume, and graduating as a professional Kandyan dancer, he left for India to study the Kathakali dance form at Kerala Kala Mandalam. Having spent three years there, he returned to set up his own dance academy with Samanthi, his life partner.
The Dancer
Ravibandhu was crafted into the dancer he is, by the training of the highest calibre he received at the Chitrasena School of Dance. His late Gurus, Chitrasena, Vajira and Bawilgamuwe Lapaya have testified to his enormous talents. As a senior performer of the troupe, Ravibandhu was described by Guru Chitrasena as “an exceptional dancer whose talents are many and varied”. He was further elaborated as “a technically sound and compelling dramatic dancer”. His remarkable performances in ballets such as Nala Damayanthi, Shivaranga, Kinkini Kolama and Rashomon have undoubtedly earned him this acclaim. It was Guru BawilgamuweLapaya who taught young Ravibandhu the traditional rituals of the Kohomba Kankariya, the main ritualistic performance of the Kandyan dance form. It is his in-depth knowledge of the traditional rituals and their adaptation within a modern setting that makes Ravibandhu a well-rounded, intellectual dancer. Further affirming her student’s artistic dimensions, Guru Vajira once told the Sunday Times that “Ravi simply had talent oozing out of him”.
Ravibandhu claims that he always wished to be called an ‘art dancer’ whose classical base plays a vital role within the many realms of dance he touches upon. He believes that a work of art comes into completion on stage; not just conventional proscenium theatres, but any space fostering artistic expression. “At a higher level, I dance for myself, and the ability of the audience to grasp my ideology is secondary” he further added.
The Choreographer
Since the inception of the Dance Academy in 1982, Ravibandhu and Samanthi (also a product of the Chitrasena School of Dance) have been committed to pass on their knowledge to the next generation, and develop well-rounded performers. Several generations of skilled dancers and drummers produced by the Ravibandhu – Samanthi Center for the Arts demonstrate the aforementioned. For over four decades, Ravibandhu has lived up to his vision for his institution; ‘to broaden the vistas of dance, with local dance as a base.’ His eagerness to create serious artistes and a tasteful audience is in fact a need of the day being discussed at large. As stated by Ravibandhu, “the need for such artistes and an audience is crucial in holistic development.” For an art form to sustain, an alignment with the audience must be created. The ability of an audience to absorb a creation is manifold. This layered understanding is a result of varying levels of a number of socio-cultural factors. According to Ravibandhu, this has been one of his key concerns over the years.
As a choreographer, his work has not only been aesthetically pleasing, but full of depth, making him a distinct artiste of our time. Among Ravibandhu’s numerous ballets that have been acknowledged by audiences both local and international, are ‘Salome, Thrushna, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello and The Rite of Spring’. Furthermore, contemporary dance miniatures such as Hecube, Gandhari and Kusumalatha, For the young killed in Wars and Judas’ are solid proof of his extraordinary talent as a choreographer. Reaching the depths of human emotions through dance, and leading his audience to encounter their innermost being could be considered a unique characteristic of Ravibandhu’s work.
The Percussionist
Ravibandhu could also be considered an ambassador of Sri Lankan drums. His understanding and expertise of Sri Lankan and world drums have thrilled audiences worldwide. The art of percussion being his passion, sheer creativity comes to him naturally. Expressing himself through rhythms of the drum has earned him nothing short of global repute. Drumming is part and parcel of traditional Sri Lankan dance forms. However, taking a step further, inspired by his drumming Guru, the late Maestro Piyasara Shilpadhipathi, Ravibandhu learned to play the conventional drums in a creative manner, more suited to a modern audience. Observing Guru Piyasara Shilpadhipathi for years, he precisely grasped the various drumming styles and techniques that were further embellished by himself. The deep conversation he built for himself with the drum eventually became his language, and is now understood by many.
The choreographer in Ravibandhu prefers large scale productions featuring extensive ensembles over solos / duos with regard to both dance and drumming. Having created solos / duos such as ‘Gajasura Mardana’ and ‘The White Carpet’ that are timeless masterpieces, he claims that he feels more accomplished when the stage is full of performers. Performing alongside respected artistes such as the late Ustad Zakir Hussain and Billy Cobham, Ravibandhu has created a large number of drum oriented music compositions including a piece for the symphony orchestra.
The Teacher
Ravibandhu has been the turning point of many of his students’ personal and professional journeys. As a second father to thousands of them, he extends a hand of concern and nurturing that goes beyond the typical form of a student – teacher relationship. Each of his students would have personal experiences that have enlightened them as to how fortunate they are to be taught and mentored by such an extraordinary artist, yet such a humble, down-to-earth human being. As a teacher, Ravibandhu is eager to pass on his knowledge and expertise to whomever willing to learn, and that furthers mere subject knowledge. Creating an informative background fostering both deep learning and understanding that would eventually open one’s mind to knowledge, experiences and exposure is what Ravibandhu enjoys the most within his role as a teacher.
From toddlers to grownup adults that learn from him in the academy and numerous other institutions would testify to his rare humane qualities. The personal attention he extends to anyone seeking his guidance and the connection he builds with them truly make him one of a kind. The homely atmosphere he creates for local and foreign students of all walks of life makes his art center a cherished place.
Following the lead of his Gurus Chitrasena and Vajira, Ravibandhu is undeniably the artist who elevated the local dance sphere to the next level. Introducing short ballets in the 80’sand 90’s, he shifted the art of local ballet to a different plane. It is astounding how he conceptualizes both short and full-length ballets around global themes while coming back to the roots as a choreographer. Ravibandhu’s artistic prowess to add dimension to dance, choreography, drumming, painting, music and many other allied disciplines makes him the panoptic artistic genius of our time. Knowingly and unknowingly being nourished by many art forms and cultures, he has taken his art beyond typical limits. In recognition of his service to his forte, Ravibandhu was conferred with the ‘Kala Keerthi’ National Honours in 2019 and an honorary Doctorate by the University of the Visual and Performing Arts in 2022.
Nritya Matha Samanthi Vidyapathy, Ravibandhu’s life partner, is a graduate of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, and is known for her mastery of traditional and modern Kandyan dance. She is an expert in character dancing and is celebrated for her many portrayals that have raised the bars of the domain. Her influence as a dance trainer has shaped numerous concert dancers, setting high standards in the realm of performing arts. Ravibandhu and Samanthi are confident of their work being carried forward with the same vision and dedication by their two talented children, Jithendra and Amritha who are currently reading for their Masters degrees at the University of Binghamton, USA and Banaras Hindu University, India respectively.
Over four decades, their establishment has grown quantitatively and qualitatively, and is today, a fully-fledged art center equipped with a dance academy, dance company, drum ensemble, state-of-the-art recording studio and a gallery space where local and foreign artistes share their knowledge and work. Their work extends locally, nationally and internationally. From regular dance and drumming classes to photography, painting and sculpture exhibitions, and a publication unit, the art center would continue to mold well-rounded artists suited to a modern audience. The Ravibandhu – Samanthi Center for the Arts, as a foremost academic and professional entity, upholds the highest levels of traditional values and customs of Sri Lanka, while also maintaining a global perspective in performing arts and all its allied fields.
Ravibandhu, the man, dancer, choreographer, percussionist, teacher asks…“In what land does my art exist? And when?”
Sureni Lenora Weerasekara