Padmini Dahanayake

🪔 About

Padmini Dahanayake Ariyadasa, a celebrated Sri Lankan artist, was a pioneering figure in Indian classical dance, particularly Bharatanatyam, and also proficient in Kandyan dancing. She received her early training in Kandyan dancing under the tutelage of Chitrasena and Vajira. In 1954, she embarked on her journey into Bharatanatyam, joining Srimathi Rukmani Devi Arunidale's Kalakshethra, the esteemed College of Fine Arts in Chennai, India. She achieved a significant milestone in April 1959, becoming the first Sri Lankan to earn a Diploma in classical Bharatanatyam from the institute. Upon her return to Sri Lanka, Padmini Dahanayake held her maiden performance, known as Arangetram, at the Royal College Hall, with her paternal grandfather, then Prime Minister Wijayananda Dahanayake, gracing the event as chief guest. Her career extended beyond performance; she served as a dance instructor in the Education Department for over 25 years and was a visiting lecturer in Bharatanatyam at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies of the University. She also performed extensively across Sri Lanka and was an actress and dancer in Sri Lankan films during the 1950s and 60s, appearing in movies like "Seda Sulang" (1955) and "Daruwa Kageda" (1961). Padmini Dahanayake was a Member of the Arts Council of Sri Lanka. In 1982, she established her own dance institution, "Shri Padma Ranga" (also known as "Shree Padma Ranga Nrithya Nikethan"), through which she nurtured numerous talents, overseeing 73 Arangetrams of her students. She imparted her dance training to countless students over five decades. Padmini Dahanayake Ariyadasa passed away on May 16, 2023. Awards & Honours: Kalasuri (1991), Kala Bhushana.