Tiana Sumanasekera, an 18‑year‑old gymnast of Sri Lankan descent, has captivated audiences this season with a Bollywood‑inspired floor routine that has become one of the NCAA’s signature performances.
Working with UCLA floor coach BJ Das, Sumanasekera said the creative process was effortless: “BJ and I knew we wanted a Bollywood princess routine, and we both had that exact thought even before we started discussing. When we began the choreography, it was so easy.”
The routine was completed in just two sessions, with a third to fine‑tune details. Sumanasekera, a Pan American Games team gold medallist, emphasized the joy and authenticity she brings to the performance: “There’s so much smiling, so much authenticity from South Asia, and I love getting the audience in on that as well.”
Her vibrant choreography has been a highlight of UCLA’s four‑and‑a‑half‑month campaign, helping the Bruins climb into the national conversation ahead of this week’s NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships in Ft. Worth. (Newswire)