Owen de Abrew
Encyclopedia
Owen de Abrew is one of Sri Lanka's leading ballroom dance personalities, he is known as the 'King of Ballroom dancing' in Colombo. He was born on the island in 1920.
in 1952, at the National Ballroom Open Event. He started teaching dance as a career in 1954. De Abrew has taught the waltz or foxtrot and Latin dances such as cha cha and rumba, among other dance forms to thousands in Sri Lanka.
. He presented a popular radio programme called The Ballroom of the Air. The station ruled the airwaves in South Asia
and millions tuned in to hear Radio Ceylon. Owen de Abrew brought with him a flair and creativity to English radio
programmes on the Station. He continued giving his input when Radio Ceylon became the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
. De Abrew worked very closely with broadcasting legends Livy Wijemanne
and Vernon Corea
at Radio Ceylon throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Two of de Abrew's students represented Sri Lanka at the World Championships in the United States
in 1988. Owen de Abrew has handed the ballroom dance mantle to his son Ravi de Abrew who is a dance champion in his own right in Sri Lanka
.
Fifty Years in Ballroom Dancing in Sri Lanka
De Abrew, who celebrated 50 years in Ballroom Dancing, was felicitated in Colombo by the Ballroom Dancers Federation of Sri Lanka in August 1994. He started his dance career under the guidance of Carl Cooke and won his first Ballroom Dance Championship in ColomboColombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
in 1952, at the National Ballroom Open Event. He started teaching dance as a career in 1954. De Abrew has taught the waltz or foxtrot and Latin dances such as cha cha and rumba, among other dance forms to thousands in Sri Lanka.
Presenter of music programs on Radio Ceylon
Own de Abrew was also a guest presenter of many radio programs in the late 1950s and 1960s, over the airwaves of Radio CeylonRadio Ceylon
Radio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
. He presented a popular radio programme called The Ballroom of the Air. The station ruled the airwaves in South Asia
South Asia
South Asia, also known as Southern Asia, is the southern region of the Asian continent, which comprises the sub-Himalayan countries and, for some authorities , also includes the adjoining countries to the west and the east...
and millions tuned in to hear Radio Ceylon. Owen de Abrew brought with him a flair and creativity to English radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
programmes on the Station. He continued giving his input when Radio Ceylon became the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation
The Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation came into existence on January 5, 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe...
. De Abrew worked very closely with broadcasting legends Livy Wijemanne
Livy Wijemanne
Livy Wijemanne was a pioneer of Radio Ceylon. He was one of Sri Lanka's greatest broadcasters, on October 31, 1948, the Post Master General appointed the young announcer, Assistant Controller of Programmes...
and Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea
Vernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
at Radio Ceylon throughout the 1950s and 1960s.
Ballroom Dance Awards
The National Association of Dancing of the UK awarded Owen de Abrew a medal for outstanding contribution to Ballroom Dancing in Sri Lanka in 1989 and Owen de Abrew received this award from John Dilroy who was the UK's Ten Dance Champion, Fellow and Examiner of the Imperial Society.Two of de Abrew's students represented Sri Lanka at the World Championships in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1988. Owen de Abrew has handed the ballroom dance mantle to his son Ravi de Abrew who is a dance champion in his own right in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
See also
- Vernon CoreaVernon CoreaVernon Corea was a pioneer radio broadcaster with 45 years of public service broadcasting both in Sri Lanka and the UK. He joined Radio Ceylon, South Asia's oldest radio station, in 1956 and later the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation...
- Radio CeylonRadio CeylonRadio Ceylon is the oldest radio station in Asia. Broadcasting was started on an experimental basis in Ceylon by the Telegraph Department in 1923, just three years after the inauguration of broadcasting in Europe.- Edward Harper :...
- Sri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationSri Lanka Broadcasting CorporationThe Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation came into existence on January 5, 1967 when Radio Ceylon became a public corporation. Dudley Senanayake who was the Prime Minister of Ceylon in 1967 ceremonially opened the newly established Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation along with Minister Ranasinghe...
- List of Sri Lankan broadcasters
External links
- Owen de Abrew felicitated - TV Times, Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
- Golden Felicitation Bash - Owen de Abrew Sunday Observer Feature
- Dancing All the Way - Ravi de Abrew
- Dance teacher par excellence - Sunday Times, Sri Lanka
- Senior Dance Professional - Daily News, Sri Lanka
- Dancing His Cares Away - Sunday Observer, Sri Lanka