Words Madhushala Senaratne Photographs Mahesh Prasantha
For the spectator, watching from afar, it is all a blur. The dancers move in quick, well-synchronised rhythm, untangling the knots of the canes to form a beautifully arched flower. It’s an artistic and spirited combination of speed, strength and skill.
Commonly referred to as cane dancing, this particular type of dance is performed mostly in perahera. Its artistry lies in the speed of the dancers, who gather momentum as they run in two parallel curves.
