Sinhala Sri Lankan Dancing

There are three Sinhala traditions of dancing in Sri Lanka, namely Kandyan Dancing, Low Country Dancing, and Sabaragamuwa Dancing.

Kandyan Dancing
This dance form is famous in the hill country mainly at the Temple of the Tooth Relic and the Kandy perahera. 'Gataberaya' or Kandyan drum is the main playing instrument in this tradition. Mask dancing and different types of dancing are in this dancing system.

Low Country Dancing
The birth of this kind of dancing is in the coastal religions of the Southern Province. This dance form has three sub-traditions, the God, Devi, and Kolam dancing. Using masks is a main feature of Low Country Dancing. We can find this dancing in Matara, Bentota, Ambalangoda, and Tangalle. Two main traditions are Matara and Bentota.

Sabaragamu Dancing
This is the ancient type of dancing in Sri Lanka. It started in Sabaragamuwa Province and combined with the Kandy tradition. The main playing instrument in this tradition is Daula or Drum. It is played with a stick.

These three kinds of dances help. These dance forms are part of a healing ritual. We can consider these dances as our traditional and cultural heritage. Offerings and fire sticks show the glorious traditions of our dances to the world.

View Dance Tradition Map