Sumudi Suraweera Archives

“DEVIL-DANCING” – By Des Kelly This was what it was called in the Ceylon I remember. If someone got very ill, especially mentally, the Devil Dancers would be called on to perform their rituals in order to rid the devils out of the patient.This devil dancing would be carried out overnight, normally featuring two or three people, and it was a “Buddy Rich, eat your heart out” situation, when these drummers from Lanka started to do their thing. This, together with the dancing & chanting would, under normal conditions, make any devil want to get the hell out of there (pardon the pun), and, even for total disbelievers like myself, I once watched one of these rituals, and, at the given time of midnight, noticed the branches of a nearby coconut tree shudder and shake violently, as the devil made his exit, hopefully to drink a thambili ...

Arts Centre Melbourne And Australian Art Orchestra Present Meeting Points Series: Of Deities And Demons Source: by BWW News Desk Of Deities and Demons is the second concert in the Meeting Points Series taking place at The Pavilion in Arts Centre Melbourne on Sunday 8 December. In a rapturous celebration of ancient Sri Lankan culture, audiences will dive into an ecstatic celebration of music and ritualistic dance with Baliphonics and the Australian Art Orchestra. In a spectacle of music, light and dance – led by Susantha Rupathilaka and Prasanna Rupathilka featuring drummer Sumudi Suraweera – this performance will draw upon an astrological healing practice known as Bali Ritual, in which deities are invoked and demons exorcised. This Meeting Points Series exclusive will thrill audiences through an intense and visceral experience, bringing together the powerful artform of Sri Lankan ritual music with Australia’s leading contemporary ensemble. Meeting Points Series is a creative ...