Panibharatha

Sithratchcharige Panis Algama ( si, ආචාර්ය එස්. පණීභාරත; 24 February 1920 – 20 February 2006Some local newspapers cited his death in 20 February 2006. But Sunday Observer, BBC Sinhala and Sarasaviya cited his death was on September 20, 2005.), known as S. Panibharatha, was a prominent Sri Lankan dancer and choreographer. Considered to be the pioneer of Sinhala classical dance, Panibhratha heavily contributed to Sri Lankan dance as an art form in a career that spanned over five decades.

Personal life

Panibharatha was born on February 24, 1920, in Algama, Kegalle, Sri Lanka, as the second of six sons. He belonged to the Algama Dance generation of the Hathara Korale of the Kegalle District. Panibharatha was called "Panis" or "Pani" by his family members. His father, Pabanchi Algama, also known as Paba Gurunanse, was a prolific Kandyan dancer. His mother, Dingiri Ukku Amma, was a housewife. Panibharatha's father, uncles, and paternal grandfather all partook in the art of dance and taught Panibharatha dance and drumming at an early age. Panibharatha studied at Keenadeniya Maha Vidyalaya.

In 1954, Panibharatha married Piyumathchari Premalatha, a dance teacher who worked at Henagama Maha Vidyalaya. The couple had two daughters, Upuli and Jayawanthi. Both daughters also became dancers, and Upuli's daughter, Aseka also became a dancer and choreographer. Upuli is married to fellow dancer and choreographer, Channa Wijewardena. Jayawanthi is married to politician and singer Dayasiri Jayasekara, the younger brother of singer Kithsiri Jayasekara.

Panibharatha died on September 20, 2005, at the age of 85, following a brief illness. The body was laid at the University of Aesthetic Studies in Colombo until noon on September 21, 2005, for final rites. The funeral took place at Borella Kanatta on September 22, 2005.

Career

Panibharatha's parents pressured him to become a doctor, so he was transferred to the Thibbotuwawe Gunananda Thero, who lived in Ratnapura, to practice medicine. While Panibharatha studied medicine, he continued to practice dancing. In 1937, J. D. A Perera invited him to work as a drummer for Perera's wife, Chandralekha, in Colombo. In 1940, Panibharatha dressed as a traditional Ves Dancer at the Attanagalle Rajamaha Vihara for his traditional inauguration into dancing.

After seeing his excellence in drumming and dancing, J. D. A Perera allowed Panibharatha to attend his school, Lawrence College, as a student. He was also permitted to work as a dance teacher while studying at the school. Later, he entered the Vidyalankara Pirivena to learn the Sanskrit language and literature from Rambukwella Sri Siddhartha Thero. In 1938, at the age of 18, he was appointed as the dance teacher at Nalanda College, Colombo.

After working as a teacher for several years at Nalanda College, Panibharatha received a scholarship in 1944 and entered Shanti Niketan University in West Bengal. There, he learned the Indian classical dance traditions of Kathakali and Manipuri and learned to play the tabla, the mridanga