Traditinal Dance Of Srilanka

Sri Lankan society is multi-ethnic and multi-religious since the pre-historic times. The majority ethnic group is the Sinhalese who practice Buddhism. The second-largest group is the Tamils who are adherent to Hinduism. Others are Muslims and Christians.

Sri Lankan society is dominantly marked by the caste system. Caste system in Sri Lanka is based on the theory that every person is born into a particular group which defines his or her fixed position within society for lifetime. Purity is one of the most basic concepts of caste system. The person in each caste must preserve their purity by avoiding the contact with the persons of lower purity. In Sri Lanka, there are two caste systems, one for the Sinhalese and the other for the Tamils. For the Sinhalese, although Buddhism discourages the distinction based on caste, it still exists but is not based on the concept of purity but on the basis of hereditary roles and functions. For the Tamils, Hinduism is a perpetuated influence on social division among themselves.

            Sri Lanka’s classical architecture, sculpture and painting are predominantly Buddhist. Stupas sprinkle the countryside, and there are several extravagantly large Buddha’s sculptures, notably at Aukana and Buduruvagala. Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa have the most impressive archaelogical legacy, but Kandy is the most thriving cultural centre today. Colonial remnants include Dutch forts, canal and churches and British residences, clubs and courthouses. Galle is the finest colonial city on the island.

Woodcarving, weaving, pottery and metalwork are all highly developed crafts, and Sri Lanka is especially renowned for its gems. Ambalangoda is the best place to see Sri Lankan masks; Ratnapura is the centre of Sri Lanka’s gem trade.

Sinhalese dancing is similar to Indian dance but relies on acrobatics, nimbleness and symbolism to unfold its narratives. Kandy is a good place to see ‘up-country dancing’, but Colombo or Ambalangoda are the places to witness the ritualistic exorcism of ‘devil dancing’. Folk theatre combines dance, masked drama, drumming and exorcism rituals in vivid recreations of Sri Lankan folklore.

  History Of Orgin

Primitive man lived in communities alone the rivers. they had agriculture based economy. they had a close relationship with the nature. some of the things in nature became their Gods From the beginning the man was afraid of over abundance of nature.
E.G. : floods, drought and wind etc…they thought that there are super natural powers behind these and started offering things. as a results different dancing forms developed.

Concept of dancing in Sri Lanka starts with “Kohombakankariya” in 4^th century   B.C. during the period of pandukabhaya. people used dancing in retails, to get rid of natural disasters, sickness …etc. during Anuradhapura period also there had been dancing as Mahavamsa
(The great chronicle of Sri Lanka) speak of procession of the tooth relic. At the end of polonnaruwa period lots of  Indian influence came in to our dancing. Kandy had an independent form of dancing yet with Hindu influence. In the south during the period of king kavantissa(1^st century B.C.) a dancing form was developed and there fore you can see  lot of dancing and retails in the south. during the period of kotte also a dancing form developed and we now call it “Sabaragamuwa dance "