• Denathi Pussegoda of DanceInspire

As an art form, dance has always captivated humanity – the ability to make art with one’s body through controlled movement evokes a sense of magic, not just for those watching, but also for those performing. 

Sri Lanka has a very rich dance tradition. Kandyan dance is renowned across the island, as are the dance traditions of the low country and the north and east. Bharatanatyam also features heavily in the Lankan dance tradition.

Of course, in dance, as in all things, there is often a call for modernity. But is there not a middle ground? A way to appreciate our dance traditions while also achieving a balance with modernity?

This is what The Sunday Morning Brunch discussed with classically-trained dancer and DanceInspire Founder Denathi Pussegoda, whose Kandy-based dance school for all ages features a range of dancing styles both traditional and modern, from jazz to hip-hop and freestyle to Kandyan. 

Denathi’s personal dance style – a fusion of traditional Kandyan dance, Bharatanatyam, and modern dance – has captivated audiences around the world online, garnering a following of nearly 500,000 on TikTok. 

All innovation needs a strong foundation

To break (or rather, bend the rules) you have to know the rules and Denathi’s journey as a dancer began at a young age, guided by an innate passion for movement that her mother recognised early on. 

From the traditional Kandyan and Bharatanatyam dance forms, Denathi invested over 15 years in mastering the intricate steps and cultural nuances. She successfully completed her Visharad exams, earning a ‘sheesha bandhane,’ a symbolic headpiece bestowed in a traditional ceremony.

Reflecting on her classical training, Denathi shared: “Dancing has truly been a remarkable and transformative journey for me. It has allowed me to express myself, connect with my cultural heritage, and find fulfilment in pursuing my passion.”

After years of Bharatanatyam training, Denathi branched out into training in contemporary dance and ballet.

In 2017, Denathi took a significant step by founding DanceInspire in Kandy. With a solid foundation in traditional dance, she embarked on the path of fusion, infusing elements of Kandyan and Bharatanatyam into a contemporary dance narrative. 

Her approach goes beyond the conventional, creating a balance that appeals to a broader audience. Striking a balance between tradition and modernity, she tailors her choreography to resonate with a diverse audience.

“When it comes to fusion, I keep the foundation of Kandyan or Bharatanatyam but tweak it for a wider audience. The music has a great influence on the execution of the moves. It’s about adapting to the trends and incorporating elements that resonate with the global community,” Denathi explained.

After her training, at her mother’s encouragement, Denathi started DanceInspire, first offering classes to younger students in all forms of dance. Denathi’s passion for dance is woven into the fabric of DanceInspire. Her dance studio, which started in her garage, has grown into a thriving community of 300 students. 

“My mother was the backbone of my dance journey. She saw the knack in me, pushed me for dance classes, and even encouraged turning our garage space into a studio,” Denathi reflected. 

A core part of DanceInspire’s approach is bouncing off students’ own creativity while providing discipline and structure to create more versatile dancers. “My teachers let me choreograph at a young age and that freedom to improvise has made me the dancer I am today. I do a lot with my students where they get to think out of the box, learn on their own, and find their own style.”

The importance of traditional dance

Denathi’s passion for traditional dance has always formed a core part of her work and during the pandemic, as she ventured into TikTok, she discovered a global community hungry for diverse dance content. While her initial videos were for fun, the unexpected growth opened doors to a vast audience. 

“It amazed me to witness the sheer number of people from around the world participating in various dance trends and enjoying the content I shared. It was a fascinating experience to be part of such a vibrant global community,” she said.

Overseas, there is a telling appreciation for traditional dance – especially from those of Sri Lankan origin who have moved overseas. 

The highly-disciplined nature of orthodox traditional dance can sometimes be restricting though, which is part of what led to Denthi pursuing a fusion of the two for performances to be more accessible, keeping the feel of traditional dance, but also incorporating more features like shoulder movements from hip-hop to create a fusion that still maintains that traditional dance philosophy. 

Unfortunately, traditional dance did not seem to elicit as much interest as it used to, Denathi explained, noting that even within her own student body there wasn’t as much of a focus on traditional dance as she would like. 

“I would have loved to have more of my students looking to learn more fusion blended with traditional dance styles, but sadly most are driven towards more modern dance styles. This generation is heavily influenced by TikTok and social media and while they do appreciate Indian and Bollywood dance, they lean towards the more modern side of it than the traditional. They find it easier to catch on to and get their bodies to move to than traditional dance, which demands a lot more structure, attention, time, focus, and commitment.”

Building a stronger interest in traditional dance

Denathi emphasised that social media had a role to play in encouraging traditional dance: “Fusion covers and reels help get that form of dance across to them. One of my most recent dances on social media was Bharatanatyam to a Telugu song and I did a workshop in Kandy for my students, which drew quite a crowd.” 

Workshops that give people a chance to experiment and learn about traditional dance also play an important role in revitalising interest in traditional dance. In fact, Denathi shared that she hoped to do a series of workshops all around Sri Lanka for those interested in Bharatanatyam and other traditional dance that covered the basics. 

Denathi also spoke about the role choreographers could play in bringing traditional dance into their work, and, through doing so, even in unorthodox manners, build back interest in it. It may not be the same as the purest form of the traditional dance, but that in itself is part of the beauty of dance – that it is ever-evolving. 

“The fact that dance is ever-evolving excites me. What we learn of it is nothing; it goes beyond that to each individual’s creativity. There are so many dance styles around the world, with new styles growing every day. That nonstop creativity in dance gives me so much excitement. You never know enough, you just have to keep exploring.”

And this is what also keeps her going with DanceInspire. “After I left school, I did think that I would start teaching kids – I read for a degree in early childhood education. I didn’t think DanceInspire would grow to become such a big academy and have such a big influence on people.” 

This year DanceInspire will put on its first annual concert, ‘Groove Odyssey,’ a celebration of diversity and a showcase of exceptional talent. It will showcase a vibrant tapestry of dance styles, spanning from jazz, hip-hop and afro to contemporary, Bollywood, reggaeton, Kandyan, and Bharatanatyam. Each performance will represent a unique cultural journey – a fusion of artistic expressions that transcend boundaries.

For more information or to stay updated on DanceInspire, you can check out danceinspirelk on Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram