History & Legend of Sri Lankan Dance

Prior to starting my Module 3 with MA Professional Practise in Dance, I thought I'd have a quick recap of my specialty: Kandyan Dance.

As we all know, I am all things Kandyan dance. I perform it, teach it, choreograph it and conduct workshops around the country and now I am researching it - we will get to that later.

Let me tell you a little bit about the history and legend of the country..

The name: 
Ceylon - now known by as Sri Lanka is often referred to as an independent island; because of its jewel-like shape, its also been called the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. The Aryan Prince Vijaya, when he landed in the island 2500 years ago called it Thambapanni - the red land which the Greeks later adapted to Thaprobane.  It was also known as Serendib by ancient Arab navigators who believed that our most sacred mountain, which they named Adam's Peak, was the one on which Noah's Art rested. Lanka was known to King Solomon of Israel, to the ancient Egyptians and records prove that we had Ambassadors in the Court of the Roman Emperor Augustus in 22 B.C.

Set like a jewelled penance on the Southern-most tip of India, and providing a variety of landscape beauty which few countries in the world can equal, Sri Lanka with its golden, sun-kissed beaches, its mountains cascading waterfall, is one of the most attractive tourist sports in the world today.

King Vijaya:
The recorded history of the country begins with the arrival of the Aryans in 500BC. The ancient chronicle the Mahawansa, tells us that when Prince Vijaya landed on our shores, he found the Yakka queen Kuweni who ruled Sri Lanka at the time, weaving on her spinning wheel.

This is indicative of a highly developed civilisation prevalent in Sri Lanka at that time. He also heard music, drumming and singing coming from a wedding ceremony in the distance, which tells us that this was an important aspect of our ancient heritage.

I look forward to blogging more about Sri Lanka, it's heritage and the connectivity to traditional dance over the next couple months!

Excited to start the next term!

Dilini
- The Kandyan Dancer