LANKALIBRARY FORUM

Famous dancer Chitrasena dies

Web posted at: 7/19/2005 1:59:37
Source ::: The Peninsula

Chitrasena, Sri Lanka’s best known traditional dancer who won local and international acclaim during a career spanning over 60 years, died on Sunday at the age of 84. He was suffering from a terminal disease. A member of the family said the doyen of traditional Sri Lankan dance forms would be laid to rest at a private funeral. No date was given. It was a few days ago that the famous dancer who has been critically ill for several months was presented with France’s highest award by the French ambassador here. Chitrasena made his debut in 1936 at the age of 15 in the role of Siri Sangabo, the first Sinhala ballet produced and directed by his father, Seebert Dias, a well known actor/producer of the 20s and 30s, founder and instructor for the Colombo Dramatic Club. He was a pioneer actor/director of Shakespearean dramas in Sinhala and English and trained hundreds of students. He founded the Chitrasena Dance Company in 1943 and extensively toured the world. In 1951 he married his star pupil Vajira who also became an outstanding dancer.