NEWS
Narthana 2026 - KD Co. Celebrates 5 Years of Narthana
As Narthana looks ahead to its fifth anniversary in 2026, the annual Sri Lankan dance showcase continues to strengthen its place as a vital platform.
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The next edition has been confirmed for 20 June 2026 at the Shaw Theatre, London, marking five years of celebrating heritage, artistry and community.
This milestone follows a vibrant and emotionally rich Narthana 2025, which brought together dancers, choreographers, drummers and guest artists from across the UK and Sri Lanka for an evening that honoured tradition while embracing contemporary storytelling.
Produced by Kandyan Dancers Company (KD Co.), Narthana 2025 presented a wide-ranging programme featuring Kandyan, Ves, Pahatharata, Bharatanatyam, contemporary fusion and live drumming, woven into thematic works exploring nature, imagination, transformation, ritual and identity.
Original choreography by Dilini Seneviratne, Saravania Selvaratnam, Lampojan Raveenthiranathan and Nisali Sisirakumara shaped many of the evening’s standout works, ranging from high-energy festival-inspired pieces to intimate explorations of heartbreak, childhood dreams and the changing seasons.
Narthana 2025 also continued the show’s longstanding commitment to giving back. Through performer registrations, a total of £1,205 was raised for the show’s chosen charity, Sahana. In January 2026, the donated funds enabled Sahana to host a dance programme for underprivileged school children in Sri Lanka, providing a platform for the children to perform and showcase their talents to a wider community.
The programme concluded with a judging panel consisting of Professor Mudiyanse Dissanayake, Guru Prasanna Rupathilaka, Shamitha Hettige, Koshan Mapatuna and Dilini Seneviratne, and participating children were also given essential educational items.
Looking ahead, Narthana 2026 will support a new chosen charity, TFT - Their Future Today, continuing the production’s commitment to using the arts as a vehicle for positive social impact.
Since its inception, Narthana has grown from a small community showcase into a respected annual event that nurtures emerging dancers, encourages cultural learning and provides a professional performance platform rooted in Sri Lankan tradition. With its fifth year on the horizon, Narthana 2026 promises to be a milestone celebration reflecting both the journey so far and the future of Sri Lankan dance in the UK.