Choreographing Her Own Story: Harini Gomes
By Noeli Jesudas
Some people find their rhythm early on, while others spend years experimenting with different beats until they discover their own. Harini Gomes seems to have made an art of doing both. A dancer trained in traditional and contemporary forms, a choreographer and a content creator, she has never been one to confine herself to a single creative lane. With a background in Business Administration adding an unexpected dimension to her artistic pursuits and new ventures such as acting on the horizon, Harini's story is one of curiosity, reinvention and the freedom to keep exploring. Beyond the performances and carefully curated frames, however, is someone who is still discovering where her journey might take her next.
Q. You’ve built a space for yourself in dance, choreography and content creation, but your academic background is in Business Administration. How did you find your way from one world to the other, and what made you pursue a creative path?
Early in my career, I spent a short time in the corporate world to experience the structure of a traditional nine-to-five job. While I respected the environment, I quickly realised it wasn't a space where I could fully align my passions or channel 100% of my creative energy. Even though I didn't have my exact path mapped out, I knew I needed to step away and pursue something I could be fully invested in. So, I quit my job through a text message, as impulsive as that sounds! Interestingly, I still decided to pursue a degree in Business Administration because I genuinely enjoyed the subject. Dance, however, had been a constant in my life since I was 10. By 14, I had taught myself choreography, and content creation eventually grew out of showcasing my work on social media, along with skills I had picked up through various hobbies.
Although I loved dancing, I was never a naturally gifted dancer. There was no luck involved, and I had to work extremely hard throughout school to refine my technique and skills. I was never the best dancer in the room, but looking back, I would say I was probably the most passionate. Choosing a creative path was the biggest decision I had ever made, especially because I had never been encouraged at home to pursue anything outside traditional career roles. I suppose it came from a fear of the unknown, which I shared, but I also knew that following any other path would take away the excitement I wanted in my life. I love not knowing exactly what the next day will bring. Having experienced two completely different worlds, I chose one as my career and kept the other as an interest. Both experiences exposed me to diverse perspectives, which I believe will benefit me in the long run.
Q. Has your background in Business Administration influenced the way you approach your creative career, build your personal brand or turn your passion into opportunities?
The business knowledge I gained through my studies definitely influences the decisions I make in my career and helps me identify potential opportunities. Creativity is something you can develop, but my knowledge of business has helped me build discipline and taught me to see myself from a client's perspective. I consider that one of the foundations of my personal brand.
Personal branding is a major asset for every professional today, and it has always played an important role in my decisions because I represent not only myself but also my clients, associates and the brands I work with. I have my own principles when it comes to content creation, and I believe they help keep me on the right track.
Dance has also helped me refine my approach to personal branding. As dancers, we are constantly taught to present ourselves in the way we want to be perceived by others. I've always believed that combining technical knowledge with a creative pursuit teaches you how to sustain your passion while navigating risks and challenges.
Q. Dance can be both an art form and a part of your identity. Having trained in traditional and contemporary styles, how have these forms shaped the way you express yourself, both on and off the stage?
I entered the world of dance intending to learn an art form, but over time, it became part of my identity. Throughout school, university and work, I was always known as "the dancer", and I wouldn't have had it any other way. I developed a strong foundation in two traditional Sri Lankan dance forms, up-country and low-country dance, as well as Kathak, during my school years. Later, I taught myself hip-hop, belly dancing, contemporary dance and several other styles.
The people around me knew how much I had sacrificed to develop my skills. At one point, perfecting my technique had become my main goal. However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought unexpected restrictions. I could no longer attend practices or perform on stage because of the health risks. Instead, I used that time as an opportunity to explore myself through dance. I began attending online workshops conducted by teachers overseas, learning new choreography and techniques. Gradually, I started incorporating more emotion and expression into my choreography, which helped me discover myself on a deeper level as a dancer. I always tell my students that dance isn't simply a sequence of steps performed in a particular order. It should have life, flow, a story and emotion that can be shared with an audience. The same philosophy applies to my life offstage. I'm someone who likes to "go with the flow". To me, that doesn't mean being careless or unaware. It means trusting my curiosity and remaining open to whatever life has in store.
Q. You trained Prathibha Liyanaarachchi for her talent round at Miss World, where she showcased traditional Sri Lankan dance. What did that experience mean to you, and what was it like helping represent our culture on an international platform through someone else's performance?
Prathibha reached out to me through Instagram, asking whether I could train her for the talent round at Miss World. I was incredibly excited about the opportunity to help represent my country on the world stage. When we met for our first practice session, she told me that she wanted to give it her absolute best and make the audience feel goosebumps during her performance. It was the biggest responsibility I had taken on in my career as a dancer and choreographer. I was impressed by Prathibha's dedication. Despite her busy schedule preparing for the competition, she made time to practise whenever she could, from early mornings to late nights. I gave her the best training I possibly could because I was determined to showcase our traditional culture and dance as accurately as possible through her performance. The choreography wasn't simply about creating something visually appealing. Although I incorporated my own style into a fusion performance, we also extensively cross-checked cultural information to ensure that Sri Lanka was represented accurately on an international stage. Overall, the experience helped me grow both as a dancer and as a teacher, and I'll always be grateful for it.
Q. If dance, choreography and content creation were all taken away for a moment, what other parts of yourself would you want people to know?
Whenever I have free time, I enjoy cooking, baking and exploring other creative hobbies, such as painting. I'm someone who loves trying new things, so when I'm not dancing or creating content, you'll probably find me working on some random project at home. I have a very small but strong support system of people who know the unfiltered version of me beyond my career, and I genuinely enjoy spending time with them. I love taking long walks on the beach with my boyfriend, and I try to be present and appreciate the little free time I get. I'm someone who enjoys being busy and always having something to do. If my career were taken away as part of my identity, I think I'd simply be a curious girl trying to fit as many activities as possible into every day.
Q. You're now exploring acting as another avenue, adding a new dimension to your creative journey. Without revealing anything you're not yet able to share, what excites you about stepping into a field where you're still discovering your place?
Learning to act definitely took me out of my comfort zone. Although I consider myself an expressive dancer, I quickly realised that being expressive as an actor was an entirely different challenge. I've learnt so much about acting and bringing characters to life. Interestingly, when I was 13, my dance teachers would often tell me that although I was a good dancer, I lacked expression. If someone had told 13-year-old Harini that she would one day be acting in front of a camera, she would never have believed it! I definitely want to explore acting further because it's still a relatively new field for me, and there's so much left to learn. For now, I know that I genuinely enjoy it, and I'm excited to see where it takes me.
Q. Finally, if your life so far were a dance piece, which chapter would have had the most unexpected choreography?
I think it would be the period when I realised that the sooner I made big decisions, the sooner I could make mistakes and learn from them. Between the ages of 20 and 21, I had to make several major decisions. Different opportunities were coming my way, and I had to learn how to distinguish between the ones I genuinely wanted to pursue and those that could shape the future I envisioned for myself. It was during this time that I decided to pursue content creation full-time and let go of the idea that dance and content creation were merely side hobbies. I knew it was a risky decision, but it felt necessary if I wanted to take social media seriously and become more hands-on with my career. At the same time, I was balancing my studies with everything else I was doing professionally. I gained experiences that I'm incredibly grateful for, but I also had to make difficult decisions and rearrange my priorities. Before that, I had never really had a fixed plan or a specific ambition. All I knew was that I needed to complete my studies. Looking back, that period was a turning point in my career. I love what I do now, but I still have so many goals to achieve and so much more to learn. I feel that I have a lot more to offer, and I genuinely believe this is only the beginning for me.
