Words: Tina Edward Gunawardhana
Dancing since the age of two, Senani Gunatilleke is a ballet dancer with innate grace and poise. An accomplished musician and dance teacher, Senani is also a model who flies the flag for dark skinned models
With the grace and poise of a prima ballerina, Senani Gunatilake has the energy of a dozen sprites as she pirouettes across the stage her faced etched in deep concentration. At the tender age of two, she started dancing and has dedicated her life to ballet, the dance medium which has won her over.
Armed with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science and Business (Marketing) from Monash University, Senani is currently in her final year of completing her Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies by the Royal Academy of Dance.
A gifted musician and model, Senani also campaigns for the inclusion of more dark skinned models in the fashion and advertising spectrum of Sri Lanka.
What attracted you to ballet?
What intrigued me the most about ballet is the task of having to execute a series of challenging steps yet ever so gracefully and effortlessly almost as if not to let the audience feel the grunt of the steps being performed but rather to convey the beauty created by it. The juxtaposition of toughness and grace is definitely what attracted me to ballet.
