• Sandarangi Perera of Vibe Dance Academy on ‘Paata’

From the moment a child says they want to dance or sing, there is a quiet pressure to be sensible. To study something practical. To choose a more conventional career that will pay the bills. To keep art as a hobby.

In South Asian homes, this advice is often given out of love and concern, but it leaves many with the unshakeable feeling that pursuing art is somehow irresponsible. And often, if you choose to go against the grain and pursue the arts anyway, you might find your family unresponsive.

This tension that almost all artists face at some point in their lives — to be who they want to be instead of who they are told to be — is what forms the core of ‘Paata,’ an upcoming 50-minute dance-theatre performance by Vibe Dance Academy (VDA) which will be staged on 18 October at the Kamatha New Theatre, BMICH. 

The event is supported by a network of partners, including Dots Bay House, Goethe-Institut Sri Lanka, Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, and Alliance Française.

Colouring outside the lines

The word ‘paata’ means ‘colour’ in Sinhala. For director and choreographer Sandarangi Perera, it’s a deeply personal name.

“Growing up, my mother would say to me, ‘It takes all kinds to make the world,’ and that’s something I took very much to heart; if we were all the same and did and liked the same things, the world would be a very dull place,” Sandarangi said. 

“I perceive all of us to be different colours and textures, and ‘Paata’ celebrates those different colours and textures and the roles they play in the broader canvas.”

Sandarangi, who is also the Founder and Head of Faculty at VDA, has long been interested in dance as storytelling rather than spectacle. With ‘Paata,’ she wanted to build a piece that blends her own experiences with those of other artists who have also wrestled with expectation and chosen authenticity through pursuing their artistic dreams.

The show is performed by three dancers — Sandarangi, Manjula Mirihana, and Julia Fernando — all of whom bring their personal journeys to the stage.

Manjula worked abroad in a traditional career but always loved dance. Supporting his family meant he had to put aside professional artistic ambitions for years, but eventually he left his established career to become a professional dancer. 

“This piece is very personal for me,” he said. “I initially studied hip-hop at the Deanna School of Dancing, but then I moved to Dubai for work as a Cost Manager. I wanted to come back to Sri Lanka and pursue the arts. This piece really helped me put that journey out there.” 

Manjula’s main style of dance is hip-hop, but he’s also comfortable with other styles and during ‘Paata,’ he will be performing not just hip-hop but also commercial and Pahatharata (low-country) dance. 

The third artist in ‘Paata,’ Julia, part of VDA’s professional company The Vibe Tribe, trained in Kandyan, Bharatanatyam, and Pahatharata dance, and helps bring Pahatharata influences into the performance. 

Storytelling through movement

‘Paata’ is broken down into three scenes, which broadly cover the different perspectives of the dancers and their different upbringings, from supportive families to hesitant ones to the pressure to choose practical careers. 

“Life and circumstances are different for everyone and we’re exploring what that feels like,” Sandarangi explained of how ‘Paata’ drew on these real stories and weaved them into movement, sound, and voice. 

Parts of the piece use recorded audio of real-life comments the dancers had heard — bosses dismissing dance as a waste of time, people calling artistic dreams impractical. There are also spoken monologues, including one in which Sandarangi reflects on what it meant to be encouraged and loved in an artistic household.

Unlike traditional dance performances that are built around showmanship, ‘Paata’ uses dance theatre rather than spectacle, blending hip-hop, commercial dance, and Pahatharata with subtle gestures like walking or breathing. Props also  play an important symbolic role with masks, desks, ropes, and paint echoing the theme of reclaiming colour. ‘Paata’ uses dance theatre as its language. 

The music is South Asian-inspired, chosen collaboratively by the cast. Each dancer spent time finding songs that resonated with their personal stories and then built choreography around those emotional anchors.

Born out of creative community

The idea for ‘Paata’ first surfaced two years ago during a dance retreat organised by Goethe-Institut and Alliance Française. Participants were invited to pitch concepts for future productions. Sandarangi presented two ideas; ‘Paata’ was the one she kept returning to.

From there, it grew through rehearsals, personal reflection, and collaboration with Manjula and Julia. “We didn’t want to make a polished piece that hides the struggle,” Sandarangi said. “We wanted something honest — something that shows how hard it can be, but also how joyful and freeing it is when you claim your identity as an artist.”

That message feels urgent in Sri Lanka, where arts careers lack recognition. VDA is helping change that by offering serious training and a professional platform through its company The Vibe Tribe.

For dance lovers and newcomers alike, ‘Paata’ promises something different. It’s intimate, contemporary, and emotionally charged. It avoids clichés of ‘glamorous’ dance and instead offers an honest look at the making of an artist. With ‘Paata,’ VDA hopes to go beyond training and performance to spark dialogue about why art matters — and why artists deserve to thrive.

It’s also a rare chance to see Sri Lankan movement languages (like Pahatharata) in conversation with global styles such as hip-hop. The fusion doesn’t dilute individuality but finds a new aesthetic balance, proving that cultural roots and contemporary forms can coexist.

“We want people to leave feeling inspired to hold onto their art,” Sandarangi said. “Even if you don’t do it professionally, your creative expression matters. Everyone has the capacity to create.”

‘Paata’ premieres on Saturday, 18 October at 7 p.m. at the Kamatha New Theatre, BMICH, Colombo

Tickets and more information are available through Vibe Dance Academy

Instagram: @vibe_danceacademy_lk