Charith Welegedara

Charith Welegedara is a dynamic choreographer, movement researcher, and dance educator with over 20 years of profound experience rooted in traditional Sri Lankan dance. As a driving force in the evolution of contemporary dance in Sri Lanka, he creatively integrates Sri Lankan, broader Asian, and Western dance elements to pioneer innovative works for the modern stage.

A unique hallmark of his practice is his specialization in Kandyan dance, which he enriches by incorporating the Chinese philosophical concept of QiXi (breath). This ontological approach explores the philosophical links between Chinese and Sri Lankan dance traditions, resulting in original performance and pedagogical techniques. Alongside Kandyan traditions, he is highly versatile in Indian classical dance styles, contemporary movement, and percussion.

An accomplished cultural leader, Charith is the founder and Artistic Director of Rangara Kalayathanaya, established in 2008 to train students in the technical mastery and expressive creativity of Sri Lankan culture. He also serves as the Managing Director and Logistics Manager for the Colombo International Dance Festival (CIDFA). Since 2017, he has successfully managed seven large-scale festivals, bringing together over 4,000 local and international dancers while fostering significant cultural and business collaborations between Sri Lanka and China.

His extensive international footprint includes working as a dancer, choreographer, and event coordinator for the NIDO Theatre Company in Nanjing, China, where his choreography for Magical Sounds was selected for the 10th IDEA/IDEAC Conference in Beijing. Additionally, he choreographed original productions such as Awesha and Rhythm of Romance for the Weeds Dance Theatre in Nanjing. Closer to home, his mastery is backed by rigorous traditional training; he was awarded the Chitrasena Scholarship for artistic excellence in 2021 and contributed to the Chitrasena Dance Company as a teacher and syllabus writer. He has also shared his expertise as a Visiting Lecturer at the University of Peradeniya.

Charith’s artistic vision is supported by a robust academic foundation. He holds an MFA in Choreography from the Nanjing University of the Arts, attained via the Chinese Government Full Scholarship. He also earned a BA in Performing Arts from the University of Visual & Performing Arts, majoring in Kandyan Dance with a Second Class Upper Division, and a Diploma in Japanese Language & Culture from the Omi Brotherhood High School in Japan.

A multilingual communicator fluent in Sinhala, Japanese, English, and Mandarin, Gimantha has taught a wide range of age groups across local and international platforms. Beyond the theatrical stage, he is deeply committed to the therapeutic power of art, currently engaging in research and practical experimentation in dance therapy to investigate the healing potential of movement for individuals with mental health conditions and children with disabilities.