Upeka Chitrasena

Upeka Chitrasena is a Sri Lankan dancer and dance teacher. Her parents Varija and Chitrasena pioneered the introduction of Sri Lankan ballet in the 1950s. Manori Wijesekera in 2011 called her "Sri Lanka’s finest female dancer", and described her relationship with the drums as unique.

Early life As a child, her house in the Colpetty neighborhood of Colombo was often visited by pioneers of modern dance, including Martha Graham and Paul Taylor, during their dance tours. Being raised in that world, Upeka decided to choose the same path. She trained at the Chitrasena School, established by her parents, in order to become a professional dancer. This was the first and only Sri Lankan institution of that time training dancers for the modern stage.

Career Chitrasena's first stage performance was in 1958, in the children's ballet Vanaja when she was seven years old. After the fulfilment of her education she went on her first world tour in 1971. In 1975 she danced the lead role in Karadiya along with her father, a role which her mother had played for years. In 1978 she danced in the lead role of Kinkini Kolama, a ballet created by her parents for her. Since 2011 she has not had a stage appearance but teaches and mentors young dancers in her dance academy. First she married Siri Perera who was famous as Singapore Siri and Majic Siri. They were later divorced.