GAYAN SRIMAL
Being creative and innovative
For him dance is life. For him there is no happiness than the joy of dancing. He is none other than seasoned dance choreographer Gayan Srimal who has proven his creative skills in dance circles. His freestyle dancing techniques have been so special because he need not stick to any set choreography. His fascinating style is only about making the steps and moves that can mesmerize audiences. But Gayan Srimal is a qualified dancer who has learnt all traditional aspects of key dance forms. The Panadura Royal College old boy joined Daily Mirror Life Impulse for a chit chat on his dancing mission. “I initially learnt the intricacies of low country dancing under Herbert Dias Sir while schooling but professionally I learnt the art from guru Kulasiri Budawatte for six years. Of this period, I taught in his academy for four years. I was then trying to start on my own, especially after being motivated by Nilhan Seneviratne, Thanuja Jayawardana, Manohari Hewawasam and others. I got the opportunity of working in Sirasa Super Star Season 2 with Anoja Weerasinghe’s Abina group and later worked independently in several television reality programmes in several channels,” said Gayan. “My favourite choreographer is Channa Wijewardana although I have not studied under him. He has been my inspiration in my creative tasks. Today I am glad that all the hard work over the decades, have yielded positive results. My dance troupe work in corporate events with several leading companies. My only ambition and dream is to be more creative and my team has been my biggest asset in making that dream a reality. My team members are the tools that showcase my creations. So I respect and treat them with dignity as much as they do to me. I am happy for all my team members especially for their commitment, hard work and loyalty. We are a disciplined outfit but I have given them the freedom when it comes to creative undertakings. I always believe in simplicity and always strive to be my ownself. When it comes to competition in this field, all choreographers are challenges to me but my competition is only with me. My biggest challenge is to do better tomorrow. People may criticize me if they don’t like me for any reason, but I never respond to them. I always use my creations to respond.” “Talking of awards, I have won several film awards for best choreography including three in a row at the Hiru Film Awards, but I never work targeting awards. It is a panel that decides on who should get an award or not. I have no say in it. Anyway I have decided to refrain from working in films because film choreography is a wide scope which is not just limited making actors or actresses to move their bodies. I was awarded for my contributions to films like Super Six, Dedunu Akase and Spandana but my biggest turning point in terms of film choreography came in Gharasarapa. I have not restricted my creations to a particular dance style. Though my base is traditional dancing, my creations are a fusion of such styles spiced with modern dancing,” he said. Kalpi Jayaratne – a female member of Gayan dance troupe – who has been with them for more than two years is a talented university graduate. She says the abstract creations of Gayan made his work unique. Lahiru Liyanage, another Performing Arts University graduate who is a0 member of Gayan’s team says they were proud to be members of the outfit which strives to be original at all times.
Has won several film awards including three in a row at the Hiru Film Awards