Students in this course will learn about the vital music and dance traditions which thrive among the Sri Lankan diasporic community in New York while gaining first-hand experience with the work of cultural institutions through the New School’s collaboration with the Center for Traditional Music and Dance (CTMD). The course will examine the traditional expressions reflecting Sri Lanka’s multi-ethnic and multi-religious diversity —including Sinhalese, Tamil, Burgher, Moor, Vedda, and Malay - through the community’s organization of social dance nights and a Vesak (Buddha’s birthday) festival. Students will also engage applied folklore activities with CTMD, such as program planning, grant writing, and documentation, while engaging broader issues of immigration, multiculturalism, and issues of representation. The course will culminate with a final performance event held at the New School. Note that this is a time-intensive course that requires a flexible schedule and a willingness to travel in and around the five boroughs.