Dancing to the tune of a loving, encouraging father

Veteran dance teacher Niloufer Peiris will present ‘Crossing Borders’, a show dedicated to her father next Sunday, March 10.

“The performance is a tribute to my father Eustace Peiris who died 20 years ago.He played a major role in my life and his influence is ever present.This evening is dedicated to him with love and appreciation,” said Niloufer.

Her memories of her father are vivid. “He was extremely lively with a wonderful sense of humour.Born into an affluent family he was the youngest of six boys. The oldest in the family, his sister Claribel, his senior by 15 years cared for him and his older brother Harry, six years his senior was also very fond of the little brother.

“Films of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers sparked an interest in tap and ballroom dance and the glamour of it all. Dance was of course part of social gatherings but his interest was much deeper. He became an excellent dancer and he and my mother were lovely to watch on the dance floor. “There was also an interest in astrology which developed into a life-long passion,” Niloufer says adding that she still has his excellent library on the occult and astrology.

“In a somewhat conventional family my father was most definitely unusual. He described his school days at Royal College as boring and he really did not study. He used to remark to me that “his schooling had been an interruption in his education!!” I loved listening to his stories about his large family and his early years,” she says.

He took a keen interest in Niloufer’s education and she was encouraged to learn music (her mother played the piano) and later on given the chance to dance. “No child could have had better parents. So much depends on the early childhood years which form character and the development of skills and talent. He was very patient with his sometimes turbulent Aries daughter and always had time for me. He opened all the doors and helped me fulfil my dreams,” Niloufer says.

Her unwavering belief is that every child deserves a chance and her Nelung Dance Academy at Hyde Park Corner is open to any child who wants to dance. “There could be no finer tribute to my father,” she says.

Performing at the show are some of Niloufer’s present and former students. Among the accomplished dancers is Seneka Abeyratne, a contemporary dance choreographer with twelve years of ballet training at the Deanna School of Dancing and Tony Fernandez, of Latin American and Ballroom Dance fame.

Maneesha Abeywickreme, a classical ballet dancer who joined the academy two decades ago at a tender six years of age will also take the stage. Rangika Jeewantha, an accomplished Kandyan dancer who studied classical ballet with Niloufer, along with Asanga de Silva and Chandima Siriwardene are also set to perform.