Cultural diplomacy: Sri Lankan dance troupe brings traditional folk dance to Karachi

KARACHI: A Sri Lankan cultural dance troupe drew a full house at the Arts Council of Pakistan in Karachi, bringing centuries of regional history and folklore to life in a rhythm-driven performance.

Presented as part of the ongoing World Culture Festival series, Kanya: Wonder Dance from Colombo brought a heavy showcase of Sri Lankan traditional, folk, and fusion dance to a packed house. 

The production was organized as a collaborative effort between the Arts Council and the Consulate General of Sri Lanka, aimed at reinforcing people-to-people ties through cultural exchange.

The evening brought together a heavy international presence, with diplomats and Consul Generals from several nations, including Thailand, Iraq, Malaysia, and Afghanistan, sitting alongside business figures and members of the local arts community.

Lamp-lighting ceremony

In keeping with diplomatic customs, proceedings opened with the national anthems of both nations, followed by a traditional Sri Lankan oil lamp-lighting ceremony. 

The ritual, mirroring the sacred intentions of a Paan Puja, serves as a symbolic marker of cultural harmony.

Sanjeewa Pattiwila, the Consul General of Sri Lanka, highlighted the broader framework of the evening. “As the Consul General of Sri Lanka, this is part of my duty in cultural diplomacy.

"Pakistan and Sri Lanka share a very good, cordial relationship in various aspects, and our cultural relationship is one of the most important parts between us."

The artistic execution of the production was led by celebrated Sri Lankan dance director and choreographer, Chandana Wickramasinghe. 

For Wickramasinghe, the performance marked his fifth journey to Pakistan and his third time anchoring a production on the Arts Council stage.

Kanya, which doubles as the brand name of Wickramasinghe’s dance company, was structured to move fluidly through diverse sub-genres of Sri Lankan movement. 

The presentation combined traditional Kandyan dance, experimental fusion pieces, and raw percussion. 

The company navigated a complex repertoire that included Ukusa (Rhythm), the mask-heavy storytelling of Naga Raksha, Ragum Gee, Ridhmanjali, and Thelme. 

‘Share the same heart’

"We perform traditional, fusion, and percussion of Sri Lankan dance. The pure Sri Lankan traditional dance you have seen now, with some fusion. My Peacock Dance is a masterpiece of my company that has traveled to nearly 79 countries around the world. After this, we will be in Paris, France next week,” Wickramasinghe detailed the precise mechanics behind the repertoire to Pakistan TV Digital.

"We [Pakistanis and Sri Lankans] both share the same heart. We are all Asians, living in the same region. We love peace, and we are all the same."

For the traveling troupe, the performance at the Arts Council is the first leg of an intense global calendar, with the company scheduled to depart Karachi for a month-long engagement in Paris. 

Yet, despite their international itinerary, the dancers emphasized a unique artistic comfort when performing for Pakistani audiences.

Ruwan Wijekoon, Country Manager at SriLankan Airlines, the official sponsor of the tour, noted that events of this caliber are directly linked to shifting travel trends. 

"Our finest Sri Lankan dance group performed here, showcasing our culture to the Pakistani audience. It became a massive success with a completely full house tonight, and I saw how much they were enjoying it. For Pakistani travelers, the visa is now free to Sri Lanka, so we are seeing a lot of people traveling these days."