Santani Foundation presents “Gurukulaya”

• Documentary as part of vital Samula heritage festival – celebration of traditional Sri Lankan dance

By Uma Chandrasiri

For the first time in history, the Santani Foundation has stepped up as a private entity to foster the dying art of traditional Kandyan dance form, with the introduction of Samula, a heritage dance festival in 2024 and the recent creation of “Gurukulaya” a documentary that showcases and honours the art and the lives of the custodian artisans of Kandyan dance.

The Santani Foundation in collaboration with Scope cinemas held a special screening of the Samula documentary recently at the Havelock city mall complex, as a tribute to Sri Lanka’s gurukula masters, the custodians of one of the islands’ oldest art forms, marking a crucial cultural milestone in Sri Lanka. The momentous occasion was graced by notable personage of the performing arts community such as Prof. Dr. Widyawathie Rajapakse, Upekhka and Anjalika Chitrasena, Heshma Wignaraja and Thaji Dias, along with scholars, media and patrons of the islands’ artistic heritage. 

Talking to Daily FT, Santani Foundation’s founder and Chief Executive Officer, Vikum Nawagamuwage said: “With Gurukulaya, we celebrate three main artists who have shaped the trajectory of the Kandyan dance form, Dr. Widyawathie Rajapakse, who mastered the kohomba kankariya despite women being traditionally barred from performing and the Thiththapajjala brothers, Thiththapajjala Sumanaweera and Thiththapajjala Samaraweera, as well as the newer generation of the Chitrasena Dance Company.” Nawagamuwage is of the view that traditional Sri Lankan art forms, dance in particular, have to be preserved, if not in its original form, then in an evolved form, and that unless sponsors step in, these traditional artisans have no choice but to dilute their art form as living will have to take precedence. 

“Historically, art was preserved by the kings who had the whole treasury at their disposal and beyond our shores, the likes of the Italian Medici family who sponsored artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. Since we are neither kings nor the Medicis, I hope that the Government and private sector sponsors will step in and continue what we have started. My next step is to bring a set of sponsors and the Government together who will foster this art form and support these artists to continue their craft. Ideally, the numerous art festivals that take place in Sri Lanka can be amalgamated into a lengthy celebration of all local art forms which will be phenomenal. This initiative is sure to boost the country’s tourism as well,” he added.

According to Nawagamuwage, one reason our traditional dance is dying a slow death is due to the extremely elevated levels of financial requirements of creating platforms such as Samula. “The three-day festival where Kandyan dance in all its glory and myriad forms was celebrated, cost us approximately Rs. 50 million to put together and it was an eye opener as to the adversities of undertaking an event of such magnitude.” The Santani Foundation through this endeavour, further aims to position the Dumbara area as a cultural hub. “I do not want the hippie destination culture to spread throughout the island. What works for Hikkaduwa and Ella will not work everywhere” he added. 

The Gurukulaya documentary honoured, beside the three maestros, the legacy of Chitrasena and Vajira who transformed Sri Lankan dance and opened the stage for female dances, a legacy proudly carried forward by their grand daughters, Heshma Wignaraja who is the curator and artistic director of Samula and Thaji Dias, the principal dancer of the Chitrasena dance company. In addition, it featured Dr. Ravibandu Vidyapathy and Danuka Ariyawansa, two modern day dance veterans of the country. 

The Santani Foundation, with the backing of Santani Wellness Resorts’ emphasis on human sustainability, supports cultural, educational, environmental and community-based initiatives across the island. The Samula festival, held from the 2 to 4 August last year, was made possible by their principal sponsor MDF and Australian aid along with other sponsors Her Circle, Sri Lankan Airlines, Aitken Spence Travels, Authenticities, Good life X and other hospitality partners who supported performers with accommodation and logistics.

Pix by Ruwan Walpola