Sri Lankan dancers and drummers

A black and white photograph of Sri Lankan dancers with drummers behind. The two male dancers stand facing the camera. They wear leggings or tight-fitting trousers with frilled skirts above. Embroidery work is visible on fabric over their chests and their sleeves have frills at the elbows. Each wears a hat or headdress with veil covering their necks. They also each wear one or more necklaces and bangles on their wrists. Three men stand immediately behind the dancers. The one to the left of the image wears a sarong-like garment, pale jacket and a scarf round his head and tied under his chin. His right hand is behind his back. To his left are two men holding drums angled horizontally across their waists. All three are barefoot. Other figures can be seen in the background, three to the left of the image and two to the right. The photograph was taken outside, with all the people standing on grass or other low-growing vegetation. Original caption (beneath the photograph, typed): ‘NATIVE ,TRINCOMOLI [sic]’.

This photograph probably shows Kandyan dancers. The elongated barrel-shaped drums are probably 'geta bera', a traditional Sri Lankan drum often used in this dance. Kandyan dance takes various forms which are practiced throrough Sri Lanka and beyond (Sri Lankan communities in London, for example, sometimes hire Kandyan dancers for weddings and other celebrations).