The Different Types of Cultural Dances in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka is a beautiful country with diverse cultures and a rich history. It has several dances that are unique and interesting to watch. The Kandyan Dance is one of the most popular dances in Sri Lanka.
Table of Contents
Kandyan Dance
Kandyan dance is one of the oldest dances in Sri Lanka. It originated from the Kandyan Kingdom, which was ruled by the kings of Ceylon and Kandy. The songs that were sung during this time were very emotional and inspiring. The dancers would wear costumes made of silk or cotton cloth with colourful designs on them. They also used wooden clappers to enhance their performances while they moved their hands up and down to mimic a bird’s wings flapping in flight!
The most common instrument used for Kandyan dancing is called Udungwe or Thambavantha (a small drum). This type of instrument makes a sound similar to what you would hear when someone beats on a drum with sticks attached to it—but instead, it’s played by hand! Another popular instrument used for Kandyan dances includes the gongs known as Akkara Gane or “Akka Ganesa” meaning elephant goggles.”
Upcountry Dance
The Upcountry dance is a traditional folk dance of Sri Lanka. It is performed by the people of the central highlands and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. The dancers wear colourful costumes and perform dances accompanied by drumbeats, flutes and other instruments like Kannel, Vaduva (a kind of wooden frame covered with cloth) etc. The dance can be performed at weddings, festivals or other special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries etc. when there are lots of guests present in one place.
Low Country Dance
The Low Country Dance is a folk dance performed by women in the southern part of Sri Lanka. It is performed to a drumbeat and features hand clapping, foot tapping and body movements that make up the rhythm of each song.
Sabaragamuwa Dance
Sabaragamuwa Dance is a dance of the Sabaragamuwa region. It is performed in a circle by men and women, who wear their traditional costumes. The Sabaragamuwa people perform this dance at religious festivals, such as the Sinhalese new year and Christmas. This type of dancing involves drums, cymbals and other musical instruments that are played by men or women at the same time to create harmony among the dancers.
Sri Lanka has many interesting cultural dances. One of these is the Kandyan dance, which is performed by both men and women. It is a traditional dance that was performed in the Kandyan region, which includes the present-day provinces of Kandy and Ratnapura. The dancers wear their traditional costumes, including headdresses made from leaves or coconut leaves with bells attached to them.
They also perform with wooden clubs or spears called Kukudu (Kuku) at festivals where they have taken part in many battles against invaders such as Portuguese traders who came to trade goods with them but ended up fighting over their land instead! There are many different types of dances that you can watch if you visit Sri Lanka, but the four we talked about today are some of the most popular ones. You can find these dances at festivals and events throughout the year!
