A
Amandi Wijesinghe
“I have been dancing since I was around 8 years old. I have danced for other troupes in Leicester and with that, I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to dance at the ICC World Cup.”
Acts: Folk, Kandyan
Amasha Kottearachchi
“I am a beginner who has had a few Kandyan dance lessons as a child as well as a few Bollywood classes at university.”
Acts: Kandyan
Angelica Weerasinghe
“In Sri Lanka, I studied dancing until grade 9, but it’s been quite a while. I’ve also participated in shows when I was younger.”
Acts: Kandyan, Sabaragamu
Anne Fernando
“I started dancing when I was 8 years old with Miss Upuli and then I continued dancing at school.”
Acts: Folk
Anuki Bopearachchi
“I have over 10 years of experience dancing at Sri Lankan new year and charity events. I have had the pleasure of dancing alongside Dilini Akki at KCL in 2018 and have been a part of the team since.”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk
Arthi Suthagar
“I have been doing bharathanatyam for over 10 years, as well as learning Kathak and did Kandyan at Southamption university.”
Acts: Bharatanatyam, Folk
Ayesha Geekiyanage Don
“I am classically trained in Bharathanatyam up to and including grade 8. I’ve also performed in a few school and university dance shows previously, including Bharathanatyam, gaana and bollywood.”
Acts: Bharatanatyam
B
Britney Hewasinghage
“I’ve previously danced at Daham Pasal as well as participating in UCL Rangeela.”
Acts: Folk, Sabaragamu
C
Charana Marasinghe
“I have been dancing for 15 years with my friends. I enjoy dancing as a hobby & continue to dance for cultural shows professionally.”
Acts: Ves
Chaturi Galboda L
“I have started my dancing journey back in 2013 with Tisaravi Dancing Academy based in Paris. I mostly perform Kandyan/Pahatharata and Bollywood acts at different cultural events and private ones as well and have had the opportunity to complete my Kala Eli Mangalya last year.”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata
D
Dahami Tennakoon
“I’ve been doing some Kandyan dancing at a young age at Dhamma school and have started learning it for a couple of months. I started Bharathanatyam at the age of 7 and I’ve been doing it for about seven years still learning at grade 6.”
Acts: Kandyan, Bharatanatyam
Devangee Marasinghe
“I’ve danced since the age of 8 and performed at many Sri Lankan new year celebrations for Kingsbury temple.”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata
Committee: Dilini Peiris
“I have been involved in Kandyan dance since 2013 fairly regularly over the years, from being part of my university’s dance society to participating in shows, lessons and workshops since leaving university.”
Acts: Kandyan
Committee: Diluni Ramanayake
“I’ve been dancing Kandyan since 2019 when I met Dilini and have loved performing at both KCL Diwali show and Dilinis Book Launch.”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk
Don Jayasinghe
“I have been dancing from a young age with a group of boys, becoming a professional Ves dancer 3 years ago.”
Acts: Ves
G
Geemini Hewamana
“I used to do a little bit of Kandyan dancing when I was in Sri Lanka.”
Acts: Kandyan
Gethana Shashitharen
“I’ve danced lots in the western styles such as hip hop, ballet, contemporary and commercial to an intermediate/advance level.”
Acts: Lyrical
H
Hashruthi Mutateesa
“I have been a Bharathanatyam dancer since 2004 & had my Arangetram in June 2018. I’ve performed at over 50 public programs in and around Colombo.”
Acts: Bharatanatyam
Committee: Hiruni Ranasinghe
“I have been dancing for around 15 years, started off at dhaham pasal for their annual cultural show and then danced with a troupe for 7/8 years. I’ve participated in many shows, dancing both Kandyan and Pahatharata.”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata, Lyrical
J
Jithmi Vitharana Thantrige
“I started dancing around the age of 6 in Sri Lanka, then at the age of 10, I came to France and continued dancing in France until today.”
Acts: Kandyan
June Mudiynaselage
“I studied dancing around 4 years ago.”
Acts: Kandyan, Sabaragamu
K
Kavindu Ranasinghe
“I started dancing with Dilini Akka a couple of months ago and I have loved it every minute. I am very excited to be a part of the first ever Narthana show.”
Acts: Folk
Committee: Kavisha Rodrigo
“I have a lot of dance experience having started dancing at the age of 11. During which I completed Pa Saraba and Goda Saraba. I have also danced in numerous cultural shows, dinner dances and represented Sri Lanka and Kandyan dance at the ICC Cricket World Cup.”
Acts: Kandyan
L
Lehana De Silva
“I have participated in UCL Rangeela 2019 as well as KCL Diwali show 2019.”
Acts: Kandyan
M
Mahith Fernando
“My dad put me to dancing classes since I’m 7 years old. Since then I have participated all island competition many times and won several. Dancing is part of my life, where when I don’t dance I feel like there is something missing as I’m such a physical person who love to express my self through dance.”
Acts: Lyrical, Folk
Malmi Manthrigedara
“I am part of the group Ceylon Dancers which is based in France.”
Acts: Kandyan
Melanie Mudalige
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Acts: Lyrical
Milana Muir
“I just started dancing 3 weeks ago. I want to follow mummy s footsteps and be a great dancer like Miss Dilini.”
Acts: Kandyan
Minoli Dissanayake
“I used to do Kandyan and general dancing, (eg. folk and pooja netum) for several Sri Lankan community events since I was small, but had to stop for 6 years. However, I’ve resumed doing Kandyan dancing last November.”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk, Lyrical
Miriam Nawagamuwa
“I’ve only performed one Kandyan performance at university.”
Acts: Kandyan, Lyrical
Moneli Samarakkodi
“I have performed in the Kandyan Dance Act at the KCL Diwali Show for three consecutive years (2018-20) and at the UCL Rangeela Show for two consecutive years (2019-20).”
Acts: Kandyan, Lyrical
N
Natasha Galpayage Don
“I used to go to classes when I was very young but haven’t been for a long time.”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk, Sabaragamu
Committee: Natasha Perera
“I started Kandyan dance when I was 5 years old in Sri Lanka. When I moved to the UK, there weren’t many Kandyan dance teachers around but I was fortunate enough to meet Dilini in 2018 where she had started dance classes in London. From then on I’ve had the pleasure of dancing in KCL in 2018 and 2019 as well as Sri Lankan new year performances alongside Dilini and many other talented dancers!”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk
Nawien Warnakulasuriya
“I have been dancing since 2009 with another troupe. I completed Ves Mangalaya in 2013.”
Acts: Ves
Nisali Sisirakumara
“I’ve learnt Udarata, Pahatharata and Bharatanatyam, and routines to lyrical music.”
Acts: Kandyan, Lyrical, Bharatanatyam
Instructor & Choreographer: Bharatanatyam
Niuni Amarasinghe
“When I was younger I was trained in Kandyan dancing for several years and Pahatharata only for a small while. I have performed on stage a number of times too.”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata
O
Oshinika Warnakulasooriya
“I started dancing in 2010 and today I am a dancer in Ceylon Dancer group.”
Acts: Kandyan
P
Pavit Sangasinha
“I started dancing when I moved to England at the age of 9. Three years ago, I did my Ves Mangalya.”
Acts: Ves
Pooja Rajguru
“I have danced Gujarati folk, Bollywood/freestyle, Kathak and Kandyan.”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk
Pranavi Sritharan
“I’ve been learning bharathanatyam for 19 years and have achieved a diploma in Bharathanatyam. I have performed as a group and solo in numberous charity shows fundraising for Sri Lanka. I have choreographed for group and solo performances and performed under my gurus choreography too. I have also studied performing arts btec level 2 in Dance learning contemporary and jazz styles achieving a distinction star.”
Acts: Bharatanatyam
R
Ravina Peiris
“I have been dancing for more than 15 years now.”
Acts: Kandyan
Rayanie Diddeniya
“A dancer who is experienced in a variety of dance styles such as Hip-hop and Afro dance. I have learned and practised Kandyan dancing from a young age for more than 5 years!”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata
Rishini Kalugala Silva
“I have danced at school for several dance acts and also in maathra (Sri Lanka).”
Acts: Folk, Lyrical, Kandyan
S
Sadun De Silva
“Started dancing at the age of 5. I am a professional Ves dancer and it is a huge passion of mine to dance.”
Acts: Ves
Choreographer: Ves Finale
Samathi Rajakaruna
“I have nearly 12 years of dancing experience with main exposure through school performances in Sri Lanka. Currently pursuing dance as a hobby on Youtube.”
Acts: Lyrical, Folk, Pahatharata
Santhoshi Ekanayake
“I’ve trained in Kandyan dancing since the age of 5 and additional experience in Pahatharata and Semi classical Kathak and Lyrical. Also studied Kandyan dancing in Sri Lanka for 6 years.”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata
Sasangee Dissanayake
“I am a trained classical dancer, with an affinity for Kandyan and Pahatharata dance forms. I started learning dance at the age of 6 in Dubai and it has kept me close to my Sri Lankan roots! I have performed at university shows in London and can’t wait to share the stage with this cast!”
Acts: Kandyan, Lyrical
Sashini Leggett
“I have been Kandyan dancing for almost 18 months now with Dilini. I have my very own lessons and sometimes I like to sneak in on my mummy’s lessons too and throw the odd move in, especially my favourite step, which is step 5!!”
Acts: Kandyan
Committee: Sathyangi Fernando
“I started dancing in uni and have been learning since then!”
Acts: Kandyan
Instructor: Pahatharata & Kandyan
Selma Ztoti
“Since I was young I always liked to dance so I did 8 years of modern jazz and classical dance in a dance school. And recently I danced a Sri Lankan dance in a group named Ceylon Dancers.”
Acts: Kandyan
Shashi Bandara
“I have been dancing for around 14 years and completed Ves Mangalya around 3 years ago.”
Acts: Ves
Choreographer: Ves Finale
Surangi Mendis
“I have been dancing online with Dilini (Kandyan) for just over a year now.”
Acts: Kandyan
T
Taniya Welmillage
“I’ve been dancing street and hip hop since I was about 8 years old but only got into Kandyan from dancing at university shows with Dilini. I’ve made such amazing memories and met amazing people because of dance and Sri Lankan culture.”
Acts: Kandyan
Tashini Knowlton
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Acts: Kandyan
Tharini Pathiranage
“I attended regular kandyan dance classes up to about the age of 17. Throughout this period, I have performed many dance acts, including Kandyan,Pahatharata, and Folk dances. Whilst at university I have been attending Kandyan classes on zoom since the pandemic.”
Acts: Kandyan, Pahatharata, Lyrical
Thilini Seneviratne
“I consider myself as a contemporary dancer, who’s still exploring the journey of movements. This is my first show in London and pretty excited to be dancing infront of all of you!”
Acts: Kandyan, Lyrical
Y
Yoggya De Silva
“I have danced various styles of Sri Lankan dances until the age of 12 back in Sri Lanka, before I moved to England. I have had hip hop dance training throughout my school and uni life in the UK.”
Acts: Kandyan, Folk