Mr. T. M. Lak Achira Bandara Tennakoon.

Mr. T. M. Lak Achira Bandara Tennakoon.

Lecturer (Prob)

Faculty of Dance and Drama
Department of Kandyan Dance

Qualifications

  • Master of Arts (MA) in Dancing – University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka
  • Bachelor of Performing Arts (BPA) – University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka
  • Certificate Course in Teaching for Higher Education (SDC) – University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Sri Lanka
  • Two-Year Teacher Training Course (Aesthetics) – Aesthetic Teacher Training College, Pilimathalawa, Sri Lanka
  • Final Certificate Examination in National Dance and Music (Kandyan Dance) – Department of Examinations, Sri Lanka

Profile

Mr. T.M. Lak Achira Bandara Tennakoon is a Lecturer specializing in Kandyan Dance, dance pedagogy, and traditional drumming practices, supported by a strong foundation in both academic scholarship and professional performance. His work thoughtfully integrates traditional Sri Lankan dance knowledge with contemporary academic inquiry, with particular emphasis on the interrelationship between movement, rhythm, psychology, and human well-being. He holds a Master of Arts in Dancing from the University of Kelaniya and a Bachelor of Performing Arts from the University of the Visual and Performing Arts. His academic training is further enhanced by formal teacher education and nationally recognized certification in Kandyan Dance, reflecting a comprehensive and practice-based approach to dance education. Mr. Tennakoon’s academic and artistic journey demonstrates a deep engagement with ritual, performance, and the scientific principles underlying traditional dance forms. As an educator, researcher, and practitioner, he views dance as a holistic discipline that contributes meaningfully to physical health, psychological balance, social development, and cultural sustainability. His scholarly work on Sri Lankan drumming traditions particularly the Udekki drum along with comparative studies of hourglass-shaped drums across cultures, positions him as a specialist in rhythm-based performance studies. In addition to his academic contributions, he is also recognized as an innovator, having created a new musical instrument named “Achcharawa,” which expands the expressive possibilities of both traditional and contemporary performance practices.

Research Interests

  • Dance and Health
  • Psychological Foundations of Dance
  • Dance Rituals and Well-being
  • Cultural Anthropology of Dance
  • Traditional Dance Principles and Scientific Analysis
  • Dance as a Tool for Human and Social Skill Development
  • Sri Lankan Dance as Performance Practice
  • Dance for Physical and Psychological Well-being
  • Sri Lankan Drumming Traditions and Performance Techniques
  • Hourglass-Shaped Drums in World Music and Their Specificities

Publications, Research, and Academic Contributions

Conference Papers & Research Symposiums

  • International Research Symposium – UVPA (2018)
    The Musical Ability of the Udekkiya
  • International Research Symposium on Intangible Cultural Heritage (2023)
    Department of Musicology, Faculty of Music, UVPA
    Structural and Performance Specificities of the Kandyan Udekki Drum
  • 5th International Conference – Faculty of Music, UVPA (2023)
    Comparative Analysis of Kandyan Dance Styles
  • International Performing Arts Conference (IPAC) – 2025
    Faculty of Dance and Drama, UVPA
    Innovation for Global Music and Dance: “ACHCHARAWA”

Innovations

  • Creator of the musical instrument “Achchara”, integrating traditional rhythmic principles with innovative design.

Articles (Educational & Research-Based)

Published in Samatha Educational Journal (2001):

  • Practical Applications of Kandyan Dance
  • Foundations and Development of Dance
  • Dance as a Cultural Expression
  • Rhythm and Movement
  • Traditional Dance Aesthetics
  • Indigenous Dance Forms of Sri Lanka

These writings contributed to early discussions on dance documentation and notation during a period when formal dance writing systems were limited in Sri Lanka.

Presidential Awards

  • Presidential Awards – H.E. President Maithripala Sirisena (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019)
  • Presidential Awards – H.E. President Mahinda Rajapaksa (2006–2013)
  • Presidential Awards – H.E. President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga (1995, 2003, 2004, 2005)

Major Achievements

  • All Island 1st Place – Kandyan Traditional Solo Dance (2009) – Department of Education (as Teacher)
  • All Island 1st Place – Kandyan Traditional Group Dance (2001, 2004) – Department of Education (as Teacher)
  • All Island 1st Place – National Youth Award (1996) – National Youth Services Council
  • All Island 1st Place – Kandyan Traditional Solo Dance (1990) – Department of Education
  • All Island 1st Place – Kandyan Traditional Solo Drumming (1990) – Department of Education
  • All Island 2nd Place – Kandyan Traditional Solo Drumming (1994) – Department of Education

International Cultural and Collaborative Performances

  • Buddhist Cultural & Art Festival – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (2007)
  • Asian Cultural and Dance Festival – Bangkok, Thailand (2008)
  • A Day of Rare Buddhist Dances – Victoria and Albert Museum, London, UK (2009)
  • Sri Lanka Independence Day Celebrations – Saudi Arabia (2018, 2024, 2025)
    Organized by the Sri Lankan Embassy, Riyadh
  • Around the World Cultural Expo – Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (2018, 2024)
    Organized by the Embassy of the United States of America