Dance is one of humanity’s oldest ways of self-expression. Throughout history, dances have been used by both individuals and communities to express emotion, tell stories and communicate messages about culture and technique.
Sri Lanka’s dance traditions have been rich. From the Bharatanatyam dances to Kandyan and modern dance, the dances of our country have attracted both foreigners and locals alike. This is why the Sri Lanka Dance Festival 2025 – Paraíso SBKZ, the country’s first internationally curated Latin and cultural dance festival, will be organised in partnership with Sri Lanka Tourism.
“We organised this so that we can really market Sri Lanka as an ultimate travel destination,” Sri Lanka Dance Festival Chief Organiser Midhushan Rhodes said.
Paraiso will take place from 31 October to 2 November at the Mount Lavinia Hotel, followed by a post-festival travel program happening from 3 to 5 November.
A global touch
While Sri Lanka is known for its own rich cultural dance styles, global styles such as hip hop, ballet and Latin dance have influenced our traditions, bringing a global fusion into our culture. Latin dances such as salsa, tango and bachata have been especially popular in Sri Lanka with many classes teaching Latin dance to budding Sri Lankan dancers.
“Dance, especially Latin dance, has always been popular,” Paraiso SBKZ organising committee member Gayathri Soysa said. “In order to attract both local and foreign guests to appreciate the beauty of dance, we have invited several world-renowned Latin dance professionals to grace our event and showcase their style and techniques.”
The dance festival will bring together over 75 international artists, DJs and influencers along with more than 500 dancers from 15 countries, including a performance by Peruvian dance world champions, Carlos and Karla. It will focus on Salsa, Bachata, Kizomba and Zouk (SBKZ)
“What makes this dance festival unique among those that have been held across the region is that it is not just a cultural festival but an international movement built on dancers,” Soysa said. “We have artists from all across the world including from Europe, America, Australia, and the Asian continent.”
Soysa expressed enthusiasm that each and every one of these dancers would bring their own energy to their performance, making the festival truly diverse and interesting.
A tool to market Sri Lanka
While Paraiso SBKZ is a celebration of global flavour and diversity, its goals are ultimately for the development of this country.
“We often see Sri Lanka as a premier tourist destination that is great for all types of tourists like families as well as solo female travelers,” Rhodes said. “So, we really need to market our country to the world which is why we came up with the concept of having this dance festival so that visitors from all over the world will come and experience the beauty and cultural diversity of Sri Lanka.”
Sri Lanka’s dance scene has already drawn in several foreign visitors, especially the much talked about dancing at religious processions. However, the organizers have ambitious plans to put Sri Lanka on the world dance map.
“We have noticed how international dance festivals draw visitors to countries that host them such as Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia,” Soysa said. “We feel that it is time for Sri Lanka to take advantage of its famous hospitality, culture and natural beauty by hosting one of these festivals.”
While one of the primary goals is to promote Sri Lanka as a tourist destination, the organisers have not forgotten to promote local talent. Along with displaying local dance instructor and choreographer, Kevin Nugara and his tea, one of the most anticipated parts of the dance festival is the ‘Sri Lanka Dance Challenge’ where over 100 schools across the island participated in a dance competition where the top 10 schools were picked. The winning school will perform at the opening night, which would give homegrown talent the recognition it deserves.
“We cannot forget about our local talent,” Soysa said. “There are so many talented aspiring dancers who do not get the recognition or the opportunities they deserve because of lack of training and infrastructure. We plan to change that.”
While Sri Lanka’s dance culture is rich and diverse, many young dancers lack the opportunities for training and exposure. The dance competition is only just the beginning of our plans,” Soysa said. “We are already in discussion with several international festivals and institutions to create ongoing training programs, exchange residencies and performance opportunities for Sri Lankan dancers abroad. Our long-term goal is to build a sustainable dance ecosystem, one where Sri Lankan talent is trained, celebrated and seen globally.”
Hopes for the future
While Sri Lanka has always attracted its fair share of tourists, the industry has had its fair share of challenges. Domestic crises such as the Easter bombings and the economic crisis as well as global issues such as the covid pandemic hit the tourism industry hard.
“Our aim is to push Sri Lanka as a global tourism hub,” Rhodes said. “And something so culturally significant as dance is a step in the right direction.