Weekly Dance Performances in Hikkaduwa to Support FoG

The Goodness Rhythm Dance Troupe have begun weekly performances every Saturday at the Bansei Hotel in Hikkaduwa at 8.30 p.m. These performances are open to the public and showcase traditional Sri Lankan dance styles in an effort to raise sustainability income for the Foundation of Goodness.

Dressed in beautiful costumes, sometimes clad in masks, and accompanied by a team of drummers, each dance performed by this group is a special insight in to Sri Lankan traditions, customs and mythology.

Sri Lanka with its proud history of more than 2500 years has three distinct indigenous dance traditions peculiar to their geographical location. Known to have originated through benedictory ritual, they are identified as “Kandyan”, “Low Country”, & Sabaragamuwa Dance forms each with its own specialized characteristics.

Over the course of the evening the troupe will perform the following dances:

1. MAGUL BERA
Auspicious drums played at the beginning of the show to invoke divine blessings.

2. RANGASHIRVADA
An invocation to Goddess “Saraswathi” and the four guardian gods of Sri Lanka.

3. NAGA - GURULU
Low country style dance. The two mask dancers depict a fight between the Cobra and Eagle.

4. GAJAGA
An Elephant dance which presents with its rhythmic dance steps the majestic tread of the elephant.

5. PANDAM PALIYA
It is customary in the low country tradition to dance the ‘Pali’ prior to the appearance of The main ‘Sanni’ (demon dances). Pandam Paliya is the first of the ‘SOLOS PALIYA’ and is danced using torches of fire.

6. VADIGA PATUNA
An excerpt from the traditional ‘Suniyam Santhiya’ ritual of the low country depicting the visit of Brahmin from the Vadiga region of India.

7. HANSA
The movements of graceful swans are mimicked in this dance, set to the rhythm of the oriental music.

8. THELME
A dance from the ritual of Devol Madu- a dance of the princess.

9.GIRI DEVI
‘Gara yakuma’ is a ritual that invokes ‘Garayaka’ the demon of sanitation and ‘Giridavi’ is the consort of ‘Garayaka’.  This is the dance of the consort ‘Giri Devi’.

10. GINI SISILA
A fire – eating dance connected with exorcism rituals from the south of Sri Lanka

Foundation of Goodness’ dance classes were established in 2013 to train rural students in traditional and folk style dancing. The Goodness Rhythm Dance Troupe was formed as a result of the dance classes, and perform as a sustainable income generation venture for FoG.

The troupe have experience performing at prestigious international events and venues such as a halftime show at the MCC Lords Cricket Grounds in UK and the Festival De Montoire- International Dance Festival in France.

Join us in Hikkaduwa at the Bansei Hotel every Saturday for an enjoyable evening supporting a great cause.

14th December 2016