MOVE 2023 - 'Ves Dance' by Shamitha Hettige (Kandyan Dance of Sri Lanka)

DONATE
shamithahettige@gmail.com

Shamitha Ruchiran Hettige presents 'Ves Dance', Kandyan National Dance of Sri Lanka.

ABOUT THE WORK
Ves Dance is a dance ritual that is performed in purification ceremony of Sri Lanka's popular dance ritual event 'Kohomba Kankariya'

Title Ves Dance of Sri Lanka
Dancer: Shamitha Hettige
Musician/s: Track Composed by: Jithendra Vidyapathi
Videographer DOP: Kavindu Rathnaweera

ABOUT THE DANCER
SHAMITHA RUCHIRAN HETTIGE is a young and established 'Kandyan' and contemporary dancer, performer & teacher.

Shamitha began his dance training at the age of 9, under the legendary dancers Channa Wijewardana and Upuli Panibharatha (daughter of legendary Sithratchcharige Panis Algama, known as S. Panibharatha, a prominent Sri Lankan dancer and choreographer. Considered to be the pioneer of Sinhala classical dance.) His trainings range from traditional Kandyan, modern dance and French ballet techniques.

Shamitha has been lauded for his flawless & geometrically fine jumps rooting from 'Kandyan' and other traditional dance forms of Srilanka.
Ever since the age of 16, he has represented the country and 'Channa upuli' dance troupe at more than 60 countries and prestigious venues.
Notable performances of Shamitha Hettige are the following; Lead performer at Carnival of culture 2012, at Berlin to grab Srilanka the winning title Male lead in “Thala” a production encompassing various Srilankan & contemporary styles of dance performed at Kennedy Center, Washington, Miller Outdoor theatre, Houston. The same production toured main cities of Australia, New Zealand, UAE, US, Europe and Japan.

Played the lead role of Sidhartha, in “Buddha” dance ballet presented to the international convention of Buddhist representatives in Srilanka, “King Ashoka” at Museus College Auditorium and “Siyapath silu”, a production based on a folk tale of Srilanka. Led a team of dancers to represent Srilanka at The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, held in Colombo, Srilanka. Played the male lead pairing with Upuli Panibharata, for ”Kuweni” production at California. Played the central role in Sannaliyane, another well acclaimed dance production in Srilanka.

Shamitha has also performed in many key stages of Russia, Japan, Europe (Germany, Sweden, UK, France, Italy etc.) Singapore, Malaysia, Gulf countries (Dubai, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar etc.), China, India, Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand.

As a teacher he has been imparting dance knowledge to hundreds of students on behalf of Channa-Upuli dance academy and on his own.
As a choreographer, he creates solo pieces and full productions. He currently learns Sri Lanka traditional drums & explores pedagogies of other South Asia arts forms.

CONNECT
Email: shamithahettige@gmail.com

Artistic Director: Michelle Jueney, The KLMovement.
Video Editor: Eric Foo, Dream Video Art.

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