When dancing becomes the very breath of life
Nilan Maligaspe has inner vision
Nilan Maligaspe is a hardworking choreographer completely dedicated to his art. Just how hard-working and dedicated, I was able to see recently at the Sudharshi Hall, opposite the BMICH in Colombo. Inside this primitive facility, the Mecca for drama rehearsals over four decades or more, Nilan was rehearsing his dance drama ‘Kuveni’ at short notice for the 2014 state ballet festival. The sweltering afternoon heat was made bearable by the shaded compound outside. But Nilan and his young wards had been at it inside the badly-ventillated hall since morning. This isn’t an armchair job. Though he sat briefly from time to time, most of the time Nilan was on his feet, moving, running, demonstrating moves, cajoling, shouting. It was a display of hard work and sweat rarely encountered, and I marvelled at his dedication and attention to detail. With only creative satisfaction as his reward at the end? It must take sheer will power and belief in one’s art to get involved to this degree. The lead dancers are experienced artistes, but most of the others are raw, and need to be trained from scratch. It’s a challenging task to do this in the short time available, but Nilan Maligaspe looks like a man who thrives within that kind of pressure.
Nilan works as a full time photo for the Sunday Times. In photography as in dance, his abiding respect for his art defines his career
Though perhaps best known as a choreographer, Nilan is a photojournalist as well, working full time for the Sunday Times. In photography as in dance, his abiding respect for his art defines his career. In sharp contrast to many others in the photography profession, he refuses to do weddings and advertising work.This is hardly surprising because he’s financially secure or doesn’t need money. But Nilan believes that going commercial will detract from what he’s doing. It’s this quality which sets him apart from many other ‘artistes’ who have made a reputation, as well as lucrative incomes, from work in their respective spheres.
Nilan spent his childhood in rural Warakapola. He started dancing at eight, watching his sister, a Kandyan dancer, practise. He was influenced too, by a relative who did Western dancing. His schooling was done in Warakapola, Atnawala and Pasyala. It was after moving to Colombo that he broadened his perspectives, studying acting under filmmaker Nishantha deAlwis. His interest in photography led him to undertake the Disidasuna diploma course in arts, studying under filmmaker and photographer K. E. Dayaratne. But dance was his principal passion, and studying stage acting under Dr. Solomon Fonseka helped boost the technical and artistic skills necessary to combine dance and drama and produce works such as Kuveni.
While still a student, he photographed the Aukana Buddha statue from a startlingly new viewpoint with nothing more than a pocket 110 negative camera. Though working as a photojournalist for the Sunday Times and as a feature writer for Lankadeepa, Nilan’s heart is really in dancing. Motivation without money is hard to come by in today’s world. What drives someone to work so hard without life’s standard compensations has to be some inner vision and fire which is only available to totally committed artistes.