Miranda Hemalatha

🪔 About

Miranda Hemalatha is a prominent Sri Lankan figure in Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, and also in traditional Sri Lankan dance forms like Kathakali and Manipuri. Inspired by dance from a young age, she pursued her passion despite initial family disapproval. She became the first Colombo Plan scholar to go to India in 1963, where she undertook her Arangetram, organized by the renowned Indian musician Maturai Krishnon. She received training in Bharatanatyam in Chennai under Guru Adyar Lakshmanan in the early 1960s. Upon returning to Sri Lanka in 1966, Hemalatha played a pivotal role in popularizing Bharatanatyam among the Sinhalese community, who initially viewed it as a “dance of Tamils”. To make the art form more accessible, she adapted themes from Buddhism and Sinhalese traditional lore, using Sinhalese songs for her recitals. She pioneered the use of a poem by Mahagama Sekera, set to music by Pandit Amaradeva, which was well-received by audiences. Beyond performing and teaching, Hemalatha is an award-winning dancer, actress, choreographer, and director of drama. She has produced numerous dance programs and experimental dance dramas since 1957, including “Ranga Dahara,” “Nupura Rawaya,” “Nritya Prasadini,” “Vasantha Thilaka,” and “Thanha Asha”. She also served as the first Directress of Aesthetic Education in Sri Lanka, working for the Education Ministry for 37 years. She founded the Miranda Hemalatha Kala Ashramaya, an institution that offers classes in Bharatanatyam, Kandyan, and low country dancing, and also provides special classes for children and individuals with different abilities. She is also the Chairperson of Diri Daru Piyasa, an institute for children with Down Syndrome. She is noted for being the first to ordain women dancers with the Ves costume, promoting equality in dance.