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Bhutan's Culture

Bhutanese Folk and Mask Dance

Bhutan's Culture Royal Academy of Performing Arts>> Bhutanese Folk and Mask Dance >> Standardisation of mask dances >> Drametse Ngachham, Mask Dance >> Wang Zhey >>  Bhutan's Culture Talo Tshechu: Sacred songs >> Ngang lhakhang: Sacred dances >> Mongar: Drametse's mask maker >> Wangdue Phodrang Tshechu >> Video Thimphu City Map >>

Royal Academy of Performing Arts in Thimphu

The history of the academy dates back to 1954 when it was started under the command of late His Majesty the King, Jigme Dorji Wangchuck with the gracious ntention to preserve and promote Bhutanese  performing arts. The academy was institutionalized in 1967 with a mandate to preserve and promote performing arts traditions. Folk music and dancing- group was introduced in 1970.  Situated in the capital city, Thimphu, the academy is the only of its kind in the country, where all kinds of performing arts traditions are being preserved and documented for future posterity.

Royal Academy of Performing Arts National Commission of Cultural Affaires Post Box # 493 Thimphu, Bhutan

The Bhutanese culture including music is being threatened owing to accelerating infiltration of other cultures. To combat this trend, the Royal Government has been making every effort to reorganize the existing activities at the academy to enable its efforts to preserve and promote the performing arts traditions. This  process has called for an expansion in the programs, including curriculum development.
Courtesy RAPA