The Ensemble
The people who make it dance
Classically trained artists and dancers of every age and background — in DC, Maryland, Virginia and the United Kingdom.
Founder & Artistic Lead
Achila Perera
Achila is a Sri Lankan and Indian classical dancer, drummer, choreographer and educator with over 25 years of professional experience. She is celebrated for her mastery of Udarata Natum (Kandyan dance) and Bharatanatyam, and is also well versed in Pahatharata Natum (Low Country dance) and Odissi.
She began learning Udarata dance at the tender age of four from her mother’s teacher, Guru Edirisighe. She continued under her primary and secondary school teacher Chandra Rajakaruna, graduating with the Pahimpath ceremony and completing the final stage of the dance examinations conducted by the Department of Education, Sri Lanka. She took dance as an A/L subject alongside business studies, privately studied Kandyan dance and Bharatanatyam under Rajini Selvanayagam, and furthered her studies with Professor Mudiyanse Dissanayake. Continuing her passion for learning, she studies Odissi under Dr. Elena Catelano and Colleena Shakti.
In her student days Achila took part in many competitions and international cultural celebrations, including SAARC and Commonwealth events. She completed the Sri Lankan Department of Education dance teacher qualifications before pursuing her career as a finance professional.
As an educator, Achila has trained hundreds of students in Sri Lanka, the UK and the USA, shaping structured classical dance pathways that have led to competition wins and university credits. She specialises in teaching dance to students with learning challenges. Her teaching blends cultural expertise, technical precision and a commitment to nurturing emerging performers.
Achila has choreographed and performed at major cultural festivals across the United Kingdom and the United States. She is proud to have contributed, together with the Active Chil Art dance team, to the first-ever inclusion of Sri Lankan traditional dance in a UK dance festival syllabus — a landmark that brought Sri Lankan heritage arts to wider British audiences and strengthened cultural representation in the UK dance sector.
Her vision is to bring people together through active movement, to create a stress-free environment with yoga and relaxation, and to make art through dance, music and other creative forms.
Artistic team
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Visharadh Hirushi Perera
Artistic Director
Visharadh Hirushi Perera is a Sri Lankan dance artist, performer, choreographer, dance educator and drummer based in the United Kingdom. Having completed the Visharadh examinations in Bharatanatyam, she has a strong foundation in Indian classical dance and Sri Lankan traditional dance.
Visharadh Hirushi Perera
Artistic Director
Visharadh Hirushi Perera is a Sri Lankan dance artist, performer, choreographer, dance educator and drummer based in the United Kingdom. Having completed the Visharadh examinations in Bharatanatyam, she has a strong foundation in Indian classical dance and Sri Lankan traditional dance.
A first-class graduate of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Hirushi holds a Bachelor’s degree specialising in Bharatanatyam and a Master’s degree in Leadership and Management. Her artistic journey combines traditional knowledge, creative expression, performance experience and a commitment to dance and music education.
As the Artistic Director of Active Chil Art, Hirushi contributes to the development of artistic programmes, dance performances, choreography, cultural workshops and community events. Her work celebrates the richness of Sri Lankan dance traditions, including Kandyan dance, alongside Bharatanatyam, Indian classical dance and contemporary dance influences. Her practice also encompasses drumming, bringing together rhythm, movement and cultural expression.
Through performances at cultural festivals and multicultural events across the United Kingdom, Hirushi aims to bring communities together, encourage cultural exchange and introduce diverse audiences to the depth and beauty of South Asian performing arts.
Her vision extends beyond the stage. She believes dance and music can inspire confidence, nurture creativity, support young people and strengthen connections between generations and cultures — and she continues to champion cultural diversity, artistic collaboration and the preservation of traditional performing arts.
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Sitare Sadeghi
Principal Performer
Sitare Sadeghi is a multi-hyphenate performer whose work spans music theatre, piano performance and traditional Kandyan dance from Sri Lanka. For more than fifteen years she has devoted her craft to the study of Sri Lankan dance, training under Guru Asanga Domask with CityDance at Strathmore and, most recently, with Guru Achila Perera of Active Chil Art.
Sitare Sadeghi
Principal Performer
Sitare Sadeghi is a multi-hyphenate performer whose work spans music theatre, piano performance and traditional Kandyan dance from Sri Lanka. For more than fifteen years she has devoted her craft to the study of Sri Lankan dance, training under Guru Asanga Domask with CityDance at Strathmore and, most recently, with Guru Achila Perera of Active Chil Art.
Her performance credits across the Washington, DC area include The Kennedy Center, Wolf Trap, Strathmore, the Sri Lankan Embassy, the University of the District of Columbia and the Smithsonian Institution. Through performances such as those at the Gandhi Center, she hopes to bring more light to Sri Lankan dance and share its beauty with a wider audience.
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Silvia Wasala
Productions Director
As Productions Director, Silvia plays an essential role in bringing the creative vision of our dance company to life. With a passion for the performing arts and a strong commitment to excellence, she oversees the planning, coordination and execution of productions, making sure every performance runs smoothly both onstage and behind the scenes.
Silvia Wasala
Productions Director
As Productions Director, Silvia plays an essential role in bringing the creative vision of our dance company to life. With a passion for the performing arts and a strong commitment to excellence, she oversees the planning, coordination and execution of productions, making sure every performance runs smoothly both onstage and behind the scenes.
From managing production logistics and coordinating technical elements to collaborating with choreographers, dancers, designers and production staff, her leadership creates an environment where artistic creativity can flourish. Her dedication, attention to detail and love for the performing arts contribute to the success of every production and the continued growth of our company.
Silvia has been dancing since the age of five. Her early teachers, Piyasara Shilpadhipathi and Channa Wijewardana, taught her different dance styles and guided her towards excellence. In her words: “Dance taught us to bring people together, express emotions and speak the same language. I have always found myself exploring different dance routines, but it amazes me that I will never stop learning.”
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Dinithi Peiris
Adjudicator
Dinithi is a Sri Lankan classical dancer, choreographer, drummer and educator with more than twenty-five years of professional experience, celebrated for her mastery of Kandyan dance, Low Country dance, Bharatanatyam, Kathak and traditional Sri Lankan drumming.
Dinithi Peiris
Adjudicator
Dinithi is a Sri Lankan classical dancer, choreographer, drummer and educator with more than twenty-five years of professional experience, celebrated for her mastery of Kandyan dance, Low Country dance, Bharatanatyam, Kathak and traditional Sri Lankan drumming.
She is a Visharad in Bharatanatyam, holds a Diploma in Kathak from Bhatkhande University, Lucknow, and a BA (Special Degree) in Cultural and Aesthetic Studies from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Her early achievements include multiple All-Island Championship awards in traditional drumming.
As an educator she has trained hundreds of students in Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom, developing structured pathways in classical dance education. She has performed at major festivals across the UK, including Dance Around the World in London, Leicester Mela, the Cambridge Dance Festival, the Croydon Harvest Festival and programmes at the Southbank Centre.
She is proud to have contributed, with the Active Chil Art dance team under the leadership of Achila Perera, to the first-ever inclusion of Sri Lankan traditional dance in a UK dance festival syllabus. As an adjudicator, her approach combines cultural expertise, technical precision, fairness and a commitment to nurturing emerging performers.
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Ishani Apsara Ranawaka
Sri Lankan Low Country Dance Educator
A distinguished graduate of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA), Ishani Apsara holds a Bharatanatyam Visharad and a first-class special degree in Bharatanatyam. Her expertise spans Sri Lankan traditional, Sri Lankan folk, Indian folk, Bollywood and Western dance styles.
Ishani Apsara Ranawaka
Sri Lankan Low Country Dance Educator
A distinguished graduate of the University of the Visual and Performing Arts (UVPA), Ishani Apsara holds a Bharatanatyam Visharad and a first-class special degree in Bharatanatyam. Her expertise spans Sri Lankan traditional, Sri Lankan folk, Indian folk, Bollywood and Western dance styles.
Ishani has showcased her talent internationally, representing Sri Lanka at prominent dance festivals in China and India in 2019. Her work reflects a deep commitment to the preservation and evolution of Sri Lankan and Indian classical dance, making her a versatile and dynamic performer on the global stage.
Our dancers
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Dishmie Wenham
Founding member
I always had dancing by my side from pre-school days, learning and performing in school and after. But since I left Sri Lanka, it was a slow journey trying to revive my passion. In 2021 I re-energised my dancing life with Achila Perera’s Active Chil Art, performing in quite a few events. It has made me realise that dancing does not age on you, nor let you age.
Dishmie Wenham
Founding member
I always had dancing by my side from pre-school days, learning and performing in school and after. But since I left Sri Lanka, it was a slow journey trying to revive my passion. In 2021 I re-energised my dancing life with Achila Perera’s Active Chil Art, performing in quite a few events. It has made me realise that dancing does not age on you, nor let you age.
My daughter is also a keen dancer and one of Active Chil Art’s young dancers, learning Sri Lankan dance from Achila and Silvia. This is my proud inheritance for my daughter from my motherland.
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Samanthi Swaris
Founding member
I started dancing when I was ten years old and have enjoyed it ever since, taking part in dance events at school and university. Dancing is a form of mindfulness that helps me cope with a stressful life. Thanks to Achila’s guidance I had the chance to dance again after several years — and it has reminded me that age isn’t a barrier to doing what we love.
Samanthi Swaris
Founding member
I started dancing when I was ten years old and have enjoyed it ever since, taking part in dance events at school and university. Dancing is a form of mindfulness that helps me cope with a stressful life. Thanks to Achila’s guidance I had the chance to dance again after several years — and it has reminded me that age isn’t a barrier to doing what we love.
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Shamalie Hettiarachchi
Dancer
I have been dancing since the age of five and it has always been a major part of my life. Growing up in Sri Lanka, I learned the practice and theory of Sri Lankan dance under many teachers, to whom I am immensely grateful — especially Mrs. Visha De Silva, who encouraged me and opened the way to numerous performances, competitions and tours in various countries.
Shamalie Hettiarachchi
Dancer
I have been dancing since the age of five and it has always been a major part of my life. Growing up in Sri Lanka, I learned the practice and theory of Sri Lankan dance under many teachers, to whom I am immensely grateful — especially Mrs. Visha De Silva, who encouraged me and opened the way to numerous performances, competitions and tours in various countries.
Even after moving to the UK I performed on a few occasions, and since joining Active Chil Art I have had the opportunity to perform and share my knowledge with other passionate dancers.
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Kithmini Aththanayake
Dancer
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Kithmini Aththanayake
Dancer
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Nehlusha Weerasinghe
Dancer
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Nehlusha Weerasinghe
Dancer
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Piyumi Herath
Dancer
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Piyumi Herath
Dancer
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Sulakkana De Seram
Dancer
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Sulakkana De Seram
Dancer
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Thejani Jayaweera
Dancer
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Thejani Jayaweera
Dancer
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident.
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Thisari Weerasekara
Dancer
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Thisari Weerasekara
Dancer
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident.