This week the Youth Observer reached out to dancer, actor and choreographer Achintha Kalana.
Achintha was named the best choreographer in a popular televison reality show recently. He works as the choreographer for musical sensation Yohani and pursues his career as a dance instructor through his dance school, Alphasquad.global.
In conversation with Achintha here’s what we found out:
Q: How did your journey as a dancer/choreographer begin?
A: When I was young I loved to dance and also to act, I did drama in school, but I didn’t have a dancing teacher. So I watched youtube and learned how to dance and my parents I believe recognized my talent and entered me into a reality show ‘podantapunluwan’, I went half way in this competition and then later I entered the Derena Little star competition. This was in fact the beginning of my journey as a dancer/choreographer.
Q: How would you say your career has evolved since then?
A: Much after Derena Little Star I joined a dancing crew called Island stompers. I learnt a lot from them, it was a very inspiring learning curve for me. There after we joined Derena City of Dance as ‘Island Stompers’ and emerged runners up.
Right after this I started my dancing classes and it was wonderful. Thereafter, I joined Hiru Super Dancer as a choreographer and won, I believe I got some recognition after this. Thereafter, I started working with Yohani as her personal dance choreographer before I debuted into the music video industry.
So I believe my career has taken many interesting turns in a very short period of time, which was scary but also very exciting at the same time and I am very glad of each and every step.
Q: What was your experience with Hiru Super Dancer?
A: It was a very good experience. It was quite tough though as, it was my first time in a competition in the capacity of a choreographer and my first working with children and everyone was else was immensely talented and experienced. It was a little difficult to navigate at first but once I got the hang of it, I really enjoyed it.
Q: Tell us about your acting career.
A: I enjoyed acting as a child too. I acted in stage plays and believed it was a viable career option for me. Thereafter, I actually stared in a movie called ‘Kaala’ and acted in several teledramas.
: What do you like the more, dancing or acting?
A: Dancing. Even when I was doing acting, it felt like dancing was what was in my body, like it was my true calling.
Q: Do you have a dancing inspiration?
A: Growing up it used to be Michael Jackson but then later it I got into Indian hippop and really fell in love with it. I think this influence really helped me shape my style as a dancer and I am very grateful for it. Further this past year I toured India while doing a dancing diploma and worked with dance studios ‘Nithyashakthi Mohan’ dance studio and at ‘Kings United’, their precision and style was very inspiring to me.
Q: Tell us about Alphasquad Global?
A: I launched it two years after the Hiru Super Dancer. At Alphasquad Global I teach people of all ages and start from beginner level dancing. I have developed various groups like the alphas, the beta and the omega (these are the solo dancers). The dancing academy is in Borelasgamuwa and those interested in joining can reach out to Achintha via social media or the contact number listed down below.
Q: What is your favourite dancing style and why do you like it?
A: Its hippop. I like it because of how free and expressive it is.
Q: Looking at your career right now, are you proud of it?
A: I am definitely proud of it. I have come very close to my big dreams at the age of 23 and I am doing something I like to do and it fills my heart with joy when I think about all the possibilities.
Q: What are your big dreams?
A: One of my biggest dreams is to participate in ‘Dance World’, this is an international competition and is often amongst the very best dancers in the world. I would love to be part of something this big. Further I would also like to choreograph other international artists like Yohani someday. It would be a privilege and a wonderful learning opportunity.
Finally we asked Achintha what plans he had in store for 2023, to which he said that was planning to leave the country for a while and acquire some knowledge on dance instructing. “Our dancing community is not as diverse yet and to acquire the skills and experience I want, I might have to leave the country and explore elsewhere and come back, so I think it is a good move for my career and I am very excited about it,” he said.