Kandyan Dance in the Heart of NYC

New York, the center of all the commotion. We have fashion and music. We have the arts, we have the food. But what you might not have known, was the captivating, sacred art form of Kandyan dance has been hiding right under your nose.

The traditional dance form of the island of Sri Lanka has been around for centuries. Filled with rituals, folk songs, intricate hand movements and heavy stomping, the customs of Kandyan dance have been passed down for generations.

The Sri Lankan Dance Academy of NY, a rising dance company, has been responsible for bestowing our city of New York, with the traditions of Kandyan dance. The company, which was established over 25 years now, has taught generations of Sri Lankan-American children and adults the importance of the culture and heritage of Sri Lanka. They now have two chapters of the organization, one in Staten Island and Queens. Trained under renowned Sri Lankan artists Dilhan Pinnagoda and Uthpala Eroshan, the Sri Lankan Dance Academy of NY's mission is to preserve the significant cultural and artistic heritage of Sri Lanka in America through both traditional and contemporary drumming and dancing.

2018, the year to try new things! SLDA has classes available for you to attend, to participate or just to watch at the Snug Harbor Cultural Center in Staten Island every Sunday at 4PM. They are inviting you, and your friends to give the exquisite dance style a chance. Maybe you too could be a Kandyan dancer.

SLDA performs for private and public events all around the east coast. On April 15th, 2018 the company will be performing at the Jacques Marchais Museum of Tibetan Art at 1:30PM.