Sri Lankan Traditional Dances

Sri Lankan Traditional Dances : Chapter 01

 

Sri Lanka has a rich traditional dance system around the country; Upcountry Dance, Law country Dance and Sbaragamu Dance.  These three forms of dance are unique to Sri Lanka which are formed in the various parts of the country as their names depicts. Upcountry dance originated in hill country specifically with the rituals of the Sri Dalada Maligawa. The upcountry dance itself practice in the Kandy Perahara (Pageant) which takes place every year in Kandy. Law Country dance originated in down south of Sri Lanka called Pahatharata Natum. The Sabaragamu Dance belongs to Sabaragamu Province of the country. The three forms of dances are closely related to the life of the Sri Lankan folk and they are used to perform in special occasions of the peoples lives.

01. The Kandyan Dances of the Up Country, known as Uda-Rata Natum;

02. The low country Dances of the Southern Plains, known as Pahatha-Rata Natum;

03. Sabaragamuwa Dances, or Sabaragamuwa Natum;

Kandyan dance takes its name from Kandy, the last royal capital of Sri Lanka, which is situated about 120 kilometers from the modern capital at Colombo. This genre is today considered the classical dance of Sri Lanka. In Sanskrit terminology it is considered pure dance it features a highly developed system of "tala" (rhythm), provided by cymbals called "thalampataa". There are five distinct types; the ves, naiyandi, uddekki, pantheru, and vannams.

The four classical dance forms differ in their styles of body-movements and gestures, in the costumes worn by the performers, and in the shape and size of the drums used to provide rhythmic sound patterns to accompany the dancing.

The drum used in Kandyan dancing is known as the Geta Bera, the drum in low country dancing as the "Yak Bera", and drum in Sabaragamu dancing as the "Davula" (the word Bera or Bereya in Sinhale means "Drum") The Geta Bera is beaten with the hands as is also Yak Bera, while the Davula is played with a stick on one side and with one hand on the other side; the Geta Bera has a body which tapers on both sides while the Yak Bera and the Davula both have cylindrical bodies.

The main distinguishing feature between Kandyan and Sabaragamu dancing, and low country, is that low country wear masks.

 

Kandyan dances (Up-Country Dance, Uda-Rata Natum)

01. Ves Dance

"Ves" dance, the most popular, originated from an ancient purification ritual, the Kohomba Yakuma or Kohomba Kankariya. The dance was propitiatory, never secular, and performed only by males.

Kandy’s Ves Dance, is an essential part of the Kandyan dance tradition in Sri Lanka. This traditional dance form is performed by male dancers wearing elaborate costumes, especially the iconic “ves” headgear, which is a distinctive, crown-like adornment symbolizing divine blessings and protection.

The Ves dance has deep roots in Sri Lanka’s cultural heritage and is connected to both religious and spiritual traditions, often performed during processions, temple festivals, and cultural ceremonies, especially in the annual Esala Perahera festival in Kandy. Dancers undergo rigorous training, as the movements in Ves Natum are intricate and symbolic, conveying reverence, power, and grace. Each step, gesture, and drumbeat holds cultural significance, honoring Sri Lankan gods and seeking their protection.

The Kandyan Ves dance is also accompanied by drummers playing the “Geta Bera,” a traditional drum that adds rhythm and energy to the performance. The dance has become a symbol of national pride in Sri Lanka and continues to be a vital aspect of preserving and celebrating the island’s rich artistic traditions

  02. Naiyandi Dance

Dancers in Naiyandi costume perform during the initial preparations of the Kohomba Kankariya festival, during the lighting of the lamps and the preparation of foods for the demons. The dancer wears a white cloth and white turban, beadwork decorations on his chest, a waistband, rows of beads around his neck, silver chains, brass shoulder plates, anklets, and jingles. This is a graceful dance, also performed in Maha Visnu (Vishnu) and Kataragama Devales temples on ceremonial occasions.

03. Uddekki Dance

Uddekki is a very prestigious dance. Its name comes from the uddekki, a small lacquered hand drum in the shape of an hourglass, about seven and one-half inch (1.3 centimeters) high, believed to have been given to people by the gods. The two drumskins are believed to have been given by the god Iswara, and the sound by Visnu; the instrument is said to have been constructed according to the instructions of Sakra and was played in the heavenly palace of the gods. It is a very difficult instruments to play. The dancer sings as he plays, tightening the strings to obtain variations of pitch.

04. Pantheru Dance

Pantheru dance is associated with goddess Pattini. Pantheruwa is a round musical instrument made from Brass, similar to a Tambourine without a drumhead. The place where it's held is called 'Alluwa’. Circumference of a Pantheruwa is usually 28 inches. This dance was used by ancient kings to signify victory in a battle.

05. Wannam

Originally a vannam (or wannam) was a kind of recitation. Most vannam describe the behaviour of animals such as elephants, monkeys, rabbits, peacock, cocks, serpents etc. Later dancers have used the vannam as a background song for their performance. There are 18 vannam in the Kandyan dance form. Traditionally a dancer would have to learn to perform all of these vannam before they would be gifted the ves costume. The most well-known among these are the hanuma vannama (monkey), The ukusa vannama (Eagle) and the gajaga vannama (elephant).

The word vannam comes from the Sinhala word varnana ('descriptive praise'). Ancient Sinhala texts refer to a considerable number of vannam that were only sung; later they were adapted to solo dances, each expressing a dominant idea. History reveals that the Kandyan king Sri Weeraparakrama Narendrasinghe gave considerable encouragement to dance and music. In this kavikara maduwa (a decorated dance arena) there were song and poetry contests.

It is said that the kavi (poetry sung to music) for the eighteen principal vannam were composed by an old sage named Ganithalankara, with the help of a Buddhist priest from the Kandy temple. The vannam were inspired by nature, history, legend, folk religion, folk art, and sacred lore, and each is composed and interpreted in a certain mood or expression of sentiment. The eighteen classical vannam are,

    01.  Gajaga Wannama (elephant)

    02.  Thuranga Wannama (horse)

    03.  Mayura Wannama (peacock)

    04.  Gahaka Wannama (conch shell)

05. Uranga Wannama (crawling animals)

06. Mussaladi Wannama (hare)

07. Ukkussa Wannama (eagle)

08. Vyrodi Wannama (precious stone)

09. Hanuma Wannama (monkey)

10. Savula Wannama (rooster)

11. Sinharaja Wannama (lion king)

12. Nayyadi Wannama (cobra)

13. Kirala Wannama (red-wattled lapwing)

14. Eeradi Wannama (arrow)

16. SurapathiWannama (in praise of the leader of gods Sakra)

17. Ganapathi Vannama (in praise of the god Ganapathi)

18. Uduhara Vannama (expressing the pomp and majesty of the king)

•         Assadhrusa Vannama (extolling the merit of Buddha)
•         Samanala Vannama (butterfly)
•         Mahabo Vannama (the sacred bo tree, Ficus religiosa, at Anuradhapura, said to be a sampling of the original Bodhi Tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment)
•         Hansa vannama (swan)

Related Article : Sri Lankan Traditional Dances : Chapter 02