In step with poise and purpose
On a quiet Sunday afternoon, as I step into the mirrored walls of the DanceWorld studio in Battaramulla, it reflects two decades of discipline, sisterhood and quiet energy. At its heart is Sureka Gunawardena, founder and artistic director of DanceWorld, rehearsing with her students for their 20th anniversary production ‘Jazzin’ – Raising the Barre’.
Set to take the stage at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on August 15 and 16, the production will feature over 100 dancers in a dazzling display of theatrical glamour and showbiz sparkle, promising a captivating visual and emotional journey through movement.
Young dancers at practice. Pix by M.A. Pushpa Kumara
From tomboy to ballerina: Sureka the dancer
“In 2005, I started with a simple dream,” Surekha says. “To offer high-level training in jazz, modern, and contemporary dance” – a first at the time. She wasn’t aiming to create prima ballerinas alone, she wanted to shape confident and articulate individuals.
DanceWorld’s curriculum was deliberately inclusive, fused with an emphasis on discipline and mindset. “It’s not just perfecting steps – we teach students to believe in themselves, to push boundaries, and to carry themselves with dignity,” Sureka explains. This philosophy has transformed DanceWorld into a space where young girls grow into young women with poise and purpose.
Sureka’s own dance journey was born from an unlikely push. Her mother, Mitabi Gunawardena, vividly remembers enrolling a young, tree-climbing Sureka into a dance class. “She was a proper tomboy, always climbing and swinging off trees,” laughs Mitabi. “My mother advised me that dance might bring grace to her rough edges.”
That decision marked a turning point. Dance, which was meant to be a balancing act for her energetic nature, soon became her greatest passion and over time, a vocation. But even as Sureka taught her students to pirouette and plié, her mother played an equally vital role backstage. Mitabi has lovingly hand-stitched most of the costumes, translating Sureka’s imaginative concepts into vibrant, theatrical reality. “Costuming is a vital part of the narrative,” she explains. “It completes the picture.”
Together, mother and daughter form an artistic partnership of creativity and quiet strength, passed from one woman to another and then shared with hundreds more.
At the core of DanceWorld is the philosophy, that dance is a tool for growth – physical, emotional and intellectual. Classes are technically rigorous, yet filled with joy and trust. There are no auditions, no ranks. Students are cast based on effort, enthusiasm and improvement.
That belief in her students is what creates the unique atmosphere at DanceWorld. “It’s a space where girls cheer each other on,” says Shyomie Kulatunga, who joined the academy at four and now serves as assistant choreographer and rehearsal director for Jazzin’ 2025. “Aunty Su nurtured me through every phase of my life. She saw something in me before I saw it in myself.”
Strong bond: Sureka and her mother Mitabi
Shyomie has performed at the prestigious Dance Excellence festival in Los Angeles in 2017, 2019 and 2024, where the DanceWorld team won multiple accolades. “DanceWorld shaped who I am – from a shy child to a confident woman,” she says.
For Sureka, raising the barre is her life’s work. “It’s about excellence, yes,” she says. “But also, it’s about raising each other- emotionally, mentally, and artistically.”
It’s a value deeply embedded in DanceWorld’s culture. Senior dancers mentor younger ones. Collaborations trump competition. “It’s rare to find a place where you’re pushed to excel but are also unconditionally supported,” says Vihani Tennekoon, who has spent nine years training at DanceWorld.
In 2023, DanceWorld helped Vihani attend a global dance convention in Los Angeles. She performed at Universal Studios and auditioned for Heart Global, a U.S. based outreach programme. She was selected and spent three months touring Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands and Italy, teaching, performing and growing.
“None of it would’ve happened without Aunty Sureka,” she says. “She taught me to believe in myself, to stay disciplined and to never give up.”
While some DanceWorld alumni have pursued dance professionally, others have taken its values into medicine, education, media, and public service. Regardless of the path, the imprint remains. “Our goal is to shape whole people,” Sureka says. “The kind of person who can walk into any room and feel seen. Someone who takes ownership of their place in the world.”
Looking ahead, Sureka envisions expanding DanceWorld’s reach – offering masterclasses, cross-border collaborations and new training formats. “There is so much talent in Sri Lanka,” she says. “We just need more platforms, more investment, and more vision.”
The show will not only spotlight the talent and dedication of DanceWorld’s performers, but also harness the transformative power of the arts for a greater cause. DanceWorld has pledged its support to the National ECMO Centre, Karapitiya through the Galle Extracorporeal Life Support Association (GELSA), helping raise both awareness and vital funds for life-saving medical care.
“This production reflects everything we stand for,” Sureka says. “It’s about celebrating growth, creativity and above all, resilience.”
Jazzin’ – Raising the Barre is on August 15 and 16 at 7 p.m. at the Lionel Wendt Theatre. For tickets, pls see: https://boxoffice.lk/events/jazzin2025/
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