I’ve always believed that dancing is not about doing the right step or right gesture but about enjoying every step you keep.

I have been planning to do a dance for the National Day assembly in January. It started off merely as a thought I had after watching Sanya -a student from MYP5- perform an Indian dance at the UN Day assembly. So, after talking to Ms Fleming and then Ms Paaramee I decided to perform a traditional Kandyan dance.

Kandyan dancing is a unique aspect of Sri Lanka. It has been around Sri Lanka since the Kandyan Kingdom and thus bears a long history. The elaborate costumes and carefully performed dance steps make it a beautiful sight. I have been practising traditional Kandyan dance since I was 8 years old and I have always loved it. It is almost a part of me and it makes me feel relaxed and I really enjoy it.

So, once I decided that I was going to do a Kandyan dance I chose a track and then I started rehearsing for it with my best friend, Reshana. I would like to thank her for her immense support for this choreography.

Image courtesy; Reshana Liyanage

Image courtesy; Reshana Liyanage

Image courtesy; Reshana Liyanage

We practised for about 6 days as I wanted to give my best for this. It was a bit tiring cause it requires a lot of hard work, dedication and also good fitness, but at the same time it was really fun and I had a lovely time. So I hope to pour out all this hard work successfully at the National Day assembly.

Through this, I completed many learning outcomes such as;

• Recognize and consider the ethics and choices of actions
• Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
• Show commitment to and perseverance
• Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively

I was able to choose a relevant audio track and choreograph the steps collaboratively with my friend. Moreover, during this process, I recognized many of my weaknesses and strengths, which I can now work towards development.