By Tenzin Lhaksam,
Phayul Reporter
Dharamsala, September 9 – It had been almost two decades since Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) last toured Ladakh – once Tibetan satellite State, now Indian territory.
On the 17 August, around 35 artist from the Institution embarked on three-week cultural tour under the Directorship of Mrs. Kalsang Youdon Dagpo. Historically and culturally, people of Ladakh shares a close affinity with the Tibetan people, who are also devoured Buddhist community. Significantly, this tour evoked a strong sense of nostalgia among the senior Ladakhi and informatively entertained the youngsters. By reflecting the age old Tibetan arts of Dance and Music, which are systematically diluted by the China’s Cultural genocide, TIPA had been successful in bridging the social and cultural gap, thereby arousing the sympathetic chord among the Ladakhi for the Tibetan cause. The itinerary of the tour includes Leh, the provincial capital and Choglamsar, where a major Tibetan settlement is located. The cultural show of the tour includes Dances from the Roof of the World, Tibetan Opera and some of the contemporary popular Tibetan Song by Aa Ka Ma band.
Like Tibetan Opera, Ladakh has also evolved on its own a similar opera in the lines of Traditional Tibetan Opera. The people and audience specially enjoyed the Dances from the roof of the World, which includes variety of traditional dances and music from the different regions of Tibet. Aa Ka Ma band as usual was thoroughly enjoyed by the younger generation, which devoured for new contemporary songs.
In a slight change in tour scheduled, TIPA was requested by the local official to participate in the upcoming Ladakh Festival 03 on the 1st of September. On the September 4, Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts performed the final public show, thus bringing an end to the successful cultural tour.
