Nilantha Karunarathna

🪔 About

Nilantha Karunarathna is a highly skilled master dancer, choreographer, and educator whose career in dance spans over 25 years, having commenced his training at the tender age of six. His foundational instruction was received from S. D. Chandrasiri (also known as Suranga Chandrasiri) and he further developed his artistry at the prestigious University of Visual and Performing Arts in Sri Lanka. Throughout his extensive career, Mr. Karunarathna has had the privilege of learning from a distinguished lineage of masters, including Piyasara Shilpadipathi, Professor Jayasena Kottegoda, Sunil Shilpadipathi, Ariyarathna Kaluarachchi, and Palika Samanthi. Notably, he also trained under the world-renowned dancing Guru, Ravibandhu Vidyapathi, who significantly shaped his artistic prowess across various dance forms. Expanding his profound knowledge, Karunarathna pursued and successfully obtained a Master's Degree in Bharatanatyam from Tamil University in India, thereby deepening his expertise in Indian classical dance. His exceptional talent has led him to perform in 26 countries globally, both as a member of the Western Province Dance Company and the esteemed State Dance Ensemble of Sri Lanka. In 2009, Nilantha Karunarathna founded Roosara Dance, where he serves as the artistic director. More recently, he co-founded the Rhythmic Nertha Foundation in Pickering, Ontario, Canada, alongside his student Anukshika Liyanage. This foundation is dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Sri Lankan and Indian classical dance forms. Currently based in Canada, he is actively involved in teaching traditional and contemporary dance in the cities of Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto. His teaching encompasses a wide array of styles, including Sri Lankan Traditional Dance (Kandyan, Pahatharata, and Sabaragamu), Indian Classical Dance (Kathak, Bharathanatyam, and Odissi), and various Modern Contemporary Dance styles, fostering a deep understanding of their cultural and historical significance. Awards & Honours: Dancer of the Week, President's Award for Best Actor (2006), Best dancer in all-Island competition for excellence in Kandyan Dance.