Sunday Times 2
The Ballet School of Colombo produces Sri Lanka’s first PBT-certified ballerina
View(s):Anitra Gunaratne has become the first ballerina in the country to earn Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Certification and the first Lankan to be listed on the PBT website. At just 21 years old, Anitra; an instructor at The Ballet School of Colombo (TBSC) now holds an internationally recognised credential in a conditioning method designed to improve technique, strength, and flexibility for dancers.
PBT enhances technical development while prioritising health and promoting longevity. It is adopted by ballet teachers, yoga and Pilates instructors, sports physiotherapists, and professional and non-professional dancers. PBT is used in injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Anitra’s ballet journey began at age three at the Oosha Garten School of Ballet, under the guidance of the late Kalasuri Oosha Saravanamuttu. She later joined TBSC, Sri Lanka’s sole affiliate of the Commonwealth Society of Teachers of Dancing (CSTD). Anitra teaches at TBSC, leading classes from pre-primary to adult intermediate levels.
Anitra aims to introduce PBT at TBSC to expose them to a training curriculum aligned with global standards. She believes this will create opportunities for young artists to refine their talents and pursue their passion beyond Sri Lanka’s borders. Anitra is pursuing her Teachers’ Diploma in Classical Ballet offered by CSTD and is involved in TBSC’s Teacher Training Program.
Founded in 1964 by Kalasuri Oosha Saravanamuttu and rebranded in 2016, The Ballet School of Colombo continues to nurture Sri Lanka’s artistic talent, offering world-class instruction and providing enchanting ballet classes for all ages, blending the magic of movement with the joy of self-expression.