Rajini Selvanayagam

{{Short description|Sri Lankan traditional dancer}}

{{Infobox person

| name = Rajini Selvanayagam

| birth_date = 1951/1952

| birth_place = Balangoda, Sabaragamuwa Province

| death_date = 20 October 2023

| nationality = Sri Lankan

| education =

| alma_mater =

| occupation = dancer, dance teacher

| organization = Chamara Kala Nikethanaya

| known_for = professional dancing

| spouse =

| awards = Kalasuri (2005)

}}

Kalasuri Rajini Selvanayagam (1951/1952 – 20 October 2023) was a veteran Sri Lankan traditional dancer. She was popularly dubbed as the Queen of Dance.

Biography

She was born and raised in Balangoda.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-21 |title=Famed Dancer and dance teacher Kalasuri Rajini Selvanayagam passes away aged 71 |url=https://www.newsfirst.lk/2023/10/21/famed-dancer-and-dance-teacher-kalasuri-rajini-selvanayagam-passes-away-aged-71/ |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=Sri Lanka News - Newsfirst |language=en}}

Career

She founded her own dance academy "Chamara Kala Nikethanaya" in 1975.{{Cite web |title=Look ahead to scale new heights {{!}} The Sunday Times Sri Lanka |url=http://www.sundaytimes.lk/150920/sunday-times-2/look-ahead-to-scale-new-heights-164718.html |access-date=2023-10-28}} She ran the Chamara Kala Nikethanaya which was solely intended at building a value-based society enhancing culture, traditions, customs through the art of dancing.{{Cite web |date=2023-10-21 |title=Veteran dancer Rajini Selvanayagam passes away |url=https://themorning.lk//articles/oy1hu571hvHcJMKDweoG |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=Latest in the News Sphere {{!}} The Morning}}

She was well known as a professional teacher of dancing during her illustrious career and she gave so much emphasis on the propagation and sustenance of unique forms of Sri Lankan dance art.{{Cite web |title=Veteran dancer Rajini Selvanayagam passes away - Breaking News {{!}} Daily Mirror |url=https://www.dailymirror.lk/breaking-news/Veteran-dancer-Rajini-Selvanayagam-passes-away/108-269656 |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=www.dailymirror.lk |language=English}}{{Cite web |date=2023-10-21 |title=Veteran traditional dancer Rajini Selvanayagam passes away |url=https://www.newswire.lk/2023/10/21/veteran-traditional-dancer-rajini-selvanayagam-passes-away/ |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=NewsWire |language=en-US}} She was conferred with prestigious Kalasuri during the 2005 Sri Lankan national honours. She was also conferred with Kala Keerthi and Vishwa Kala Keerthi titles during her career.

Death

She died on 20 October 2023 at the age of 71.{{Cite web |title=Veteran traditional dancer Rajini Selvanayagam passes away |url=https://www.adaderana.lk/news.php?nid=94246 |access-date=2023-10-28 |website=www.adaderana.lk |language=en}}

References