Sri Lankan Dance Masks: A Cultural and Artistic Legacy

Vesmuhunu - Sri Lankan dancing masks are complex objects that represent Sri Lankan cultural and ritual practices. These masks serve as both artistic expression and functional aid in traditional dance forms. These masks are worn during dance rituals and folk theatre performances. The origins of these masks are traced back to ancient times. There are various styles of masks that reflect different purposes and meanings. However, masks are profoundly complicated dancing objects in Sri Lankan traditional dance rituals. These masks are used to represent a variety of characters and personalities in the ritual. Thovil ritualistic dance performance, features masks. The dancer (Yakadura) wears a mask and embodies the demon spirit, and performs in front of the audience with dramatic expressions in response to the drumming and chanting. As a result of this performance the bad spirit leaves the affected patients. However, devil dance masks (Yaksha Muhunu) are one of the most complicated dancing objects used in these exotic rituals. Sri Lankan devil dance mask at the British Museum Asian Department (with four cobras) (figure 1) which was made of wood belongs to the seventeenth/eighteenth century is related to this category. This research aims to identify the Sri Lankan dancing masks, which include profound cultural heritage and artistic legacy and uncovering meaning and cultural identity as well as identifying masks as dance objects.

Dhanushka Seneviratne, MA, BA 1st class honours, is a professional dancer, interdisciplinary artist Oriental ballet director choreographer, international collaborative Researcher and lecturer at the University of Kelaniya, Department of Fine Arts, Sri Lanka. She received her MA in public art and performance from London Metropolitan University in 2023. She was awarded a Certificate in Teaching Higher Education (CTHE) with best Research proposal presentation honours 2021. She was awarded the postgraduate diploma in performing Arts in 2018 (UVPA). She was a student counsellor and MA and BA research supervisor at the department. She was appointed as subject coordinator of the Performing Arts for (CDCE) degree programme. She has been a collaborative researcher and conducted workshops with the Northern Kentucky University School Of Arts with practical support from the Fulbright Specialist programme. As a researcher, she presented her work in ADTA 56 American Dance Therapy Association 2021. She has been a professional choreographer for more than decades and has travelled to many countries representing Sri Lanka. She was a member of the Sri Lankan national dance troupe. Her current research interests include research on Sri Lankan low-country dance and DMT (Dance/ Movement Therapy). Dance and community engagement, Dance on Screen, Dance Biomechanics, Dance injury prevention. She has journal publications for Creative Arts in Education and Therapy Eastern and Western Perspectives CAET 2021.