SWAG dance troupe from Point Pedro performs today at international dance competition finals

HAILING from Point Pedro, Jaffna, Meerusha is 24 years old and it seems that she has danced before she could walk.

- BY SURYA VISHWA

Living in the furthest location of the country did not stop her dreams.

At age 18 she meticulously planned the formation of her own dance teaching establishment and now boasts of a free style dance troupe by the name of SWAG. It comprises of her students, many of them older than her. They identify themselves as being a modernist free style dance group but also draws on traditional classical heritages.

What is unique is that all of them address Meerusha as 'Master.' In their eyes as well as hers, gender division does not exist and although petite in structure she embodies a personality that exudes pure dynamism and persona.

"I am energy. Pure energy. I am born in this lifetime as a female but I am formless as I dance. I merge into the universe," she explains.

She has over 30 students from across Jaffna and conducts her classes at the Arc building belonging to Jekhan Arulliah who is on his own mission to support Northern artists.

We first met the SWAG dance group and Meerusha at the Open Mic performance that Jekhan has motivated a youth group to organise monthly.

The third edition of the Jaffna Open Mic was held last week at the garden space of the Arc building where many youth performed outstandingly in singing, rapping, spoken poetry and dance. Dance was the monopoly of Meerusha's team who literally had the audience even the older ones, vibing to the beat.

"There are many dance groups in Jaffna and I am one of them," she asserts, stating that her group has been selected as finalists for an international dance competition.

Isai Thullal dance competition

"The Isai Thullal dance competition is a famous international event held in Europe for the past 25 years and this year it includes Sri Lanka. My group has been selected for the finals and we will be performing at the grand finale scheduled for July 26th in Jaffna," she explains.