Prof. Mudiyanse Dissanayake

Mudiyanse Dissanayake was born in the mountain country to a family who had inherited the Hill Country classical dancing traditions. He studied dancing at home already as a child. As a young student at the Department of Aesthetic Studies in the University of Kelaniya, he consolidated his knowledge of the performing arts of Sri Lanka. He defended his doctoral thesis on performing arts at the University of Sri Jayawardanapura (Sri Lanka), and after that went on to earn a Diploma in Kathak Dancing from South India. Prof. Mudiyanse Dissanayake is considered as an exponent of the Hill Country Classical Dance of Sri Lanka. During his professorship he has extensively researched the field of dance and tightened the relationships of the classical dancing traditions of India and Sri Lanka. He has traveled foreign shores as well, illustrating, performing, lecturing, entertaining, and inspiring the world with the sacred dancing tradition which he inherited from his forefathers. At present, he works as the Director of the Department of Dancing at the Institute of Aesthetic Studies of the University of Kelaniya.