Colombo, Sri Lanka

Traditional Dances of Sri Lanka

Cultural Evening with Dinner and Dance Show Enjoy a colorful extravaganza of dance and music and learn about Sri Lanka’s traditions. Sri Lanka’s dances reflect the country’s age-old history of cultural encounters, with roots in its pre-Buddhist past. Travel to a renowned local hotel, where you will enjoy dinner and watch a display of some of Sri Lanka’s most representative traditional dances. The Kandyan dances are considered Sri Lanka’s classical dance form. Watch an elegant performance of the Vess Netuma, which recreates scenes from the epic Hindu poem Ramayana . Also see the low-country dances of the southern plains, which closely reflect the country’s Buddhist past and are often called the “Devil Dances.” In the dramatic Naga Raksha, male performers wear brightly colored carved wooden masks—so important in Sri Lankan folklore. Admire these and other dance styles while savoring delicious local fare. * Easy - Walking portions are generally over easy surfaces with few steps or inclines. Total time walking or standing is normally not longer than 1.5 hours.