Arpeggio Creative Dance and Drama Academy celebrates 20 years

An institute established to recognize aesthetic talents of underprivileged youth from Colombo and suburbs has reached 20 years with over a thousand children being groomed as talented artistes.

Arpeggio Creative Dance and Drama Academy is the brainchild of Nilan Maligaspe, a wellknown choreographer, dancer, photojournalist who has received many awards such as best choreographer at the Derana Music Awards 2011 and Colombo District Young Artists Award last year.

Arpeggio Creative Dance and Drama Academy (ACDDA) trains underprivileged young boys and girls from all communities in ballet, contemporary dance, hip-hop, creative dance and traditional dance free of charge. Meanwhile, students are motivated in continuing studies and offer support when required.

Classes are conducted for children at the WareHouse Project and Building Hope Children’s Resource Centre, Goethe Institut, ICCR and Sudarshi Hall in Colombo.

The students of the academy have taken part in a number of productions such as ‘Another Tempest’ that was first staged at the Colombo Dance Forum in 2010, ‘Black, White and Red’ (modern ballet)/ Solace in Stone(classical ballet)’ also in 2010.

In 2012, a group of students were in Ladakh, India where they performed ‘Kuveni’, a contemporary dance act and were highly praised by fellow dancers and choreographers in India. The students also took part in last year’s ‘Sudu Paraveyo’ drama for world peace day and ‘The Performing Costume’ dance drama last year.

“By these performances students feel they are being appreciated and their talents are recognised. We have also noticed that they are performing well in academic work and are enthusiastic about attending our classes. The students also showed improved personality and positive attitude towards life,” said Nilan Maligaspe, Director of ACDDA.