Art becomes powerful when it preserves the past while inspiring the future. The journey of Chandana Wickramasinghe reflects this balance perfectly. Over more than three decades, he has transformed Sri Lankan dance into a globally respected art form through performance, choreography, education and cultural leadership.
Born in Moratuwa, Sri Lanka, Chandana showed a natural connection to rhythm and movement from childhood. His parents enrolled him in formal dance training at the age of six, beginning a lifelong dedication to the performing arts. He trained under legendary dance visionary Deshamanya Chitrasena, where he learned that dance was not merely performance, but a cultural responsibility tied to history and identity.
He later refined his mastery under Guru Kulasiri Budawatta and completed the prestigious Ves Ceremony, marking his transition from student to custodian of Kandyan dance tradition. By the age of eighteen, Chandana had entered professional performance through SAMA Ballet and began touring internationally. A major milestone came when he performed at London’s Sadler’s Wells Theatre in 1990, proving that Sri Lankan classical dance could captivate global audiences.
Seeking to expand his artistic language, Chandana trained in India at Shantiniketan under Guru T. M. Sankaranarayanan, studying Kathakali and Indian classical theatre traditions. This experience helped him blend Sri Lankan classical discipline with expressive storytelling and modern stagecraft.
In 1999, he founded Chandana & The Dancers’ Guild, which grew from a small studio into one of Sri Lanka’s leading dance institutions with seven academies and thousands of trained students. His teaching emphasized not only technical excellence, but also cultural understanding, storytelling and emotional expression.
Chandana also gained recognition for his large scale ballet productions such as Mayura Sandeshaya and The Story of Seetha, along with choreography for film and television. Through these works, he brought traditional Sri Lankan dance into modern cultural spaces while preserving its authenticity.
Having performed in more than seventy nine countries, Chandana became a cultural ambassador for Sri Lanka, representing the nation at international festivals, diplomatic events and global showcases. His career proves that tradition does not lose strength when shared with the world. Instead, it gains new life and meaning.
Chandana Wickramasinghe’s story is ultimately about dedication, discipline and cultural pride. Through dance, he has shown that art can connect generations, cross borders and preserve identity while continuing to evolve with time.