Sri Lanka Boy Dancers: Dance Types-- Kandyan Dances

Kandyan dance
Figure 1.--Here is a photo of Kandyan boy dancelife of the r, preparing for a dance. Note the intricate chest-plate work. The dances and costumes provide us a glimose into the Kandyan kingdom.

Kandyan dances are probably the most important of the various Sri Lankan traditional dances. They are generally regarded as the national dance form. Kandyan dances evolved in the Kandy Kingdom. This was the kingdom in the interior of Sri Lanka that proved most resiliant against the Europeans. Many of the dances depict stories associated with the Kandy kings, queens, princes and heroes. The dance style probably is a good representation of dances in Kandy. The image here is a boy costumed for Kandyan dance and it is the most popular traditional dance in Sri Lanka (figure 1). Kandy costumes can be very impressive. Male dance costumes can include spectacular headwear. Bare chests are decorated with intricte silver regalia. There are also silver bangles on arms and anklets. The dances are set to drum rhythms.








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Created: 5:31 PM 9/1/2008
Last updated: 9:09 AM 9/10/2008