Dancing through life – how Dona brings creativity and culture into teaching

Whether she’s singing lullabies, choreographing traditional dances or performing on stage, Dona Pathirana has always found joy in creative expression. Now, as a kaiako at Barnardos Early Learning Pakuranga, she weaves that same passion into her teaching – helping tamariki thrive and have the best start in life.

Dona grew up in Sri Lanka, surrounded by music, dance, and storytelling. Her uncle was a musician who would take her to musical shows, sparking her love for the performing arts.

“Singing and performing has always been a part of my identity. From a young age, I loved being on stage,” says Dona.

“Performance has given me joy, confidence, and a way to express myself. Today, I still bring that energy into our early learning centre – through music and movement.”

Dona, her husband and two sons moved to Aotearoa in 1995, seeking a safer future. Though she didn’t have extended whānau here, she was determined to find a sense of belonging.

In 1996, she used her passion for performing arts to start a traditional Sri Lankan dance group, a creative journey that would later shape her approach to teaching.

“I thought I should share my artistic skills and bring a bit of home to Aotearoa because we have a Sri Lankan community in Auckland. I took the dancing groups to multicultural shows too. I worked with local schools. I was inspiring them to keep the culture alive.”

She also saw it as a way to reconnect young Sri Lankan children with their identity.

“Some Sri Lankan children, they don’t know how to speak their heritage language… So I try my best to teach them and show them – this is our traditional dancing.”

Finding her calling in early childhood education

Wanting to find meaningful work in Aotearoa, Dona began volunteering at a local school in Auckland before enrolling at Unitec to pursue a diploma in early childhood education in the early 2000s.

“I’ve always had a nurturing nature and loved working with young children. Once I started learning about New Zealand’s early childhood philosophy, I felt like I had found my calling.”

Dona has been a Barnardos kaiako at Pakuranga for seven years and says she feels grateful to be doing work that blends care and creativity.

“Incorporating my passion with my mahi at Barnardos means I get to do two things I love most every day – singing and caring for tamariki under one roof.”

“Even now, I sing with the babies. I bring smiles, imagination, and joy through music. One girl who started with me as a 3-month-old, I had been singing a song I created to her. Now she’s two and a half and she still asks me to sing it to her and she hums along.”

“It’s a powerful reminder of how music can create lasting, meaningful relationships in early childhood – an important and crucial time for their learning development.”

Keeping the arts alive

Dona continues to create and perform music. She’s released an album with 16 original songs and has nearly 60 to date. She also helps lead Sri Lankan community events and supports young Sri Lankan musicians in Aotearoa.

At the centre, she draws on her creativity every day – singing songs, teaching dances, and creating magical moments with tamariki.

“What I love most is seeing the world through children’s eyes. Every day is full of wonder and discovery. I also value being someone a child can trust, someone who supports their wellbeing, encourages their voice, and celebrates their individuality. Being a part of their first years of learning is an honour.”

Barnardos Early Learning Pakuranga
Want to enrol your tamariki at our Pakuranga Centre? Visit bel.org.nz to learn more about the incredible mahi our kaiako do to ensure every child and their family thrives.

How Dona uses dance and song in her teaching