Give Today! Support Randolph College
AboutAdmissionUndergraduateGraduateAcademicsUndergraduateGraduateStudent LifeAthleticsOutcomesAlumnae & AlumniParents & FamiliesInside RandolphAPPLYREQUESTVISITNEWSEVENTSSupport RandolphSearch

Quillian Symposium

Movement Rhizome: Quillian International Symposium on Sri Lanka
February 5-10, 2025

About | Special Feature | Panelists | Schedule | Register
A graphic for the Movement Rhizome symposium. A red background, featuring yellow/orange text explaining when the event is, with a photo of two dancers on the lefthand side

^

Register to Attend

^

“Movement Rhizome: Quillian International Symposium on Sri Lanka” is an interdisciplinary event curated by Quillian Visiting International Scholar Sudesh Mantillake.

Inspired by the rhizome concept, this symposium will explore the intersection of dance, performance, film, geography, philosophy, anthropology, architecture, religion, music, literature, rhetoric, decoloniality, and migration.

Through performances, mindful movement sessions, roundtable discussions, and film screenings, participants will explore the history, culture, resilience, healing and politics of Sri Lanka and its global relevance.

The symposium aims to explore established and emerging narratives and expressions of Sri Lanka, bringing together esteemed scholars and artists to engage in meaningful discussions.

The expertise and insights of the presenters will foster a collaborative atmosphere for the meaningful exchange of knowledge.

^

Special Feature: Sri Lankan Dance Performance & Dialogue

Feb. 7, 2025, 7 p.m., Houston Memorial Chapel, Randolph College

“Contextualizing My Devil Dance” by Sudesh Mantillake
Featuring Sudesh Mantillake, Chinthaka Bandara, & Vajira Mantillake
Open free to the public.

^

Symposium Panelists

    • Gunindu Abeysekera, Sri Lankan American ethnic studies scholar, art and cultural ethnographer, and community archivist. PhD candidate in Culture and Performance, UCLA
    • Chinthaka Bandara, Internationally acclaimed drummer, Senior Lecturer, Sri Palee Campus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • Suzanne M. Bessenger, Barbara Boyle Lemon ’57 and William J. Lemon Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Randolph College
    • Tyler Lehrer, Assistant Professor of History, Virginia Wesleyan University
    • Sudesh Mantillake, Quillian International Visiting Scholar, Randolph College, permanent faculty member in the Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Vajira Dilrukshi Mantillake, dancer, educator, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Wilton Martínez, Director of the Center for Visual Anthropology of Peru, Adjunct Associate Professor at University of Maryland Global Campus
    • Katrina Powell, Director of the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies and Professor, Virginia Tech
    • Chamila Priyanka, Sri Lankan theatre practitioner, Visiting Lecturer, PhD student in Performance as Public Practice at University of Texas at Austin
    • Susan A. Reed, Associate Professor of Women’s & Gender Studies and Anthropology, Bucknell University

    Online Panelists

    • Tharaka Gunasekara, architect, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Chamanee Darshika Hewagamage, theatre practitioner, Lecturer, Department of Theatre, Ballet and Modern Dance, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • Thamali Kithsiri, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Hasanthi Niriella, movement artist, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Vijay Madasamy, activist, community organizer, Researcher and Project Coordinator at Law and Society Trust
    • Sumudu Manelanga, movement artist, Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Dilanjana Pathirana, music scholar, Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    Schedule

    Feb 5, Wednesday

    2 p.m – Sri Lankan Dance Workshop MAC Dance Studio
    Featuring Sudesh Mantillake and Chinthaka Bandara
    This workshop is open free to the public.

    Feb 7, Friday

    7 p.m – “Contextualizing My Devil Dance” Houston Memorial Chapel
    Sri Lankan Dance Performance & Dialogue by Sudesh Mantillake
    Featuring Sudesh Mantillake, Chinthaka Bandara, & Vajira Mantillake
    This performance and dialogue is open to the public.

    Feb 8, Saturday: Symposium

    The symposium is open to all who register.

    8:30 a.m –  Contemplative Practice Session Houston Houston Memorial Chapel

    9 a.m – “Identity & Politics” Roundtable Houston Memorial Chapel
    In-person roundtable presentations and discussion featuring the following scholars:

    • Katrina Powell, Director of the Center for Refugee, Migrant, and Displacement Studies and Professor, Virginia Tech
    • Chamila Priyanka, Sri Lankan theatre practitioner, Visiting Lecturer, PhD student in Performance as Public Practice, University of Texas at Austin
    • Susan A. Reed, Associate Professor of Women’s & Gender Studies and Anthropology, Bucknell University

    10:30-10:45 a.m – Break

    10:45 a.m – “Building Resilience through Art & Performance” Houston Memorial Chapel
    Hybrid in-person/virtual panel, bridging the distance between the United States and Sri Lanka, featuring the following scholars and artists in collaborative dialogue:

    • Suzanne M. Bessenger, Barbara Boyle Lemon ’57 and William J. Lemon Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Randolph College
    • Tharaka Gunasekara, architect, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Chamanee Darshika Hewagamage, theatre practitioner, Lecturer, Department of Theatre, Ballet and Modern Dance, University of the Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • Thamali Kithsiri, Senior Lecturer, Department of Geography, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Vijay Madasamy, activist, community organizer, Researcher and Project Coordinator at Law and Society Trust
    • Sumudu Manelanga, movement artist, Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Hasanthi Niriella, movement artist, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Dilanjana Pathirana, music scholar, Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    12:30-1:30 p.m. – Lunch  Cheatham Dining Hall

    1:30 p.m – “History & Performance” Houston Memorial Chapel
    In-person roundtable presentations and discussion featuring the following scholars:

    • Gunindu Abeysekera, Sri Lankan American ethnic studies scholar, art and cultural ethnographer, and community archivist; PhD candidate in Culture and Performance, UCLA
    • Chinthaka Bandara, internationally acclaimed drummer, Senior Lecturer, Sri Palee Campus, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka
    • Tyler Lehrer, Assistant Professor of History, Virginia Wesleyan University
    • Sudesh Mantillake, Quillian International Visiting Scholar, Randolph College; Professor of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka
    • Vajira Dilrukshi Mantillake, dancer, educator, Visiting Lecturer, Department of Fine Arts, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka

    3 p.m – Breakout Groups Houston Memorial Chapel

    4-4:15 p.m – Break

    4:15 p.m – Film Screening & Talkback:
    “The Dance Ritual of Eighteen Vannamas” Nichols Theatre
    Film directed by Athula Samarakoon, award-winning filmmaker, Senior Lecturer, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

    • Speaker: Sudesh Mantillake

    This screening and talkback is open free to the public.

    6 p.m –  Speakers Dinner Randolph House

    Feb 10, Monday

    6 p.m –  Work-in-Progress Film Excerpt Screening & Talkback
    “Why We Dance: Ritual, Performance, and Healing in Post-War Sri Lanka” Nichols Theatre
    Filmmakers & Speakers:

    • Susan A. Reed, Producer and Researcher
    • Wilton Martinez, Director and Co-producer
    • Sudesh Mantillake, Field Producer and Cultural Consultant

    This screening and talkback is open free to the public.

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn YouTube RSS Feeds Snapchat