Traditional Dance - Sri Lanka

Traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka can be dated back to 4th Century B.C. The folk dance of this country was influenced by the cultures of the Chola dynasty. Most of the dance forms of Sri Lanka owe their origin to different ancient rituals and ceremonies. Under influence of the local traditions of Sri Lanka, different dance forms also evolved. Some of the popular traditional dance forms in Sri Lanka are Kandyan dance, Pahatharata dance, Wanni dance and Sbaragamuwa dance.
Kandyan dance evolved during the time of Kandyan kings in Sri Lanka. This dance form often imitates the animal movements. The costumes of Kandyan dance are very colorful and majestic. The 4 main divisions of Kandyan dance are Ves, Naiyaki, Pantheru and Uddekki.
Pahatharata dance is a ritualistic dance form. It is believed that through performance of this dance, the evil spirits can be appeased. During performing Pahatharata dance, the dancers wear different types of masks.
The Wanni dance is another popular form of traditional dance in Sri Lanka. Singing and only a few dance steps are associated with Wanni dance. Many rituals are also associated with this dance form.
The Sbaragamuwa dance is mainly associated with worship of God Saman. This style of dance is adopted for about 32 main dances in Sri Lanka. This dance is also associated with a ritual known as Gam Maduwa.

08:53 AM Friday December 21nd, 2012

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