Prasanna’s mission: Preserving localdancing traditions in the USA
Living in the United States, Prasanna Yamasinghe is on a mission to preserve Sri Lankan dancing traditions among the locals living there. Based in California, main aim of Prasanna’s effort is to protect local dancing, one of the cultural identities of Sri Lankans living in the country thousands of miles away. Born in Sandalakawa and studied at Sandalaka Central College, Prasanna decided to learn local dancing styles such as Udarata, Pahatharata and Sabaragamu at a young age. Having completed higher studies in dancing, Prasanna joined the dancing troupe of Yamasinghe Damanadeniya Development Foundation. He later served as a teacher at Welpella Maha Vidyalaya Kurunegala and later joined a private firm.
In 2000 he went to the USA and joined University of Los Angeles to do his degree in Business Management. While in the States, Prasanna started ‘Thath-jith’ Dancing Academy to teach dancing to children of Sri Lankans living there. ‘My main aim in opening this academy was to teach local dancing traditions that have been preserved for more than 2000 years to our children living in this far away land’ Prasanna said speaking to the TV Times.
‘It is not just dancing that we are teaching to these children but discipline, sensitivity and humane qualities through the rhythms and music’ he added.
He could be contacted on prasannayamasinghe@yahoo
