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Bhutanese
Folk and Mask Dance
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Standardisation
of mask dances underway
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The Dranyen
(guitar dance) and Chhoezhay Cham (religious dance) will be introduced
in other dzongkhags as part of a move to standardise mask dances in the
country. These two sacred dances, popular in Thimphu and Paro, are usually
performed when the Thongdroel is unfurled for the devotees during
religious festivals. About 26 Chhampons (dance masters) and Chhamjugs
(mask dancers) from the 11 southern and eastern dzongkhags are being
taught the Dranyen and Chhoezhay Cham at the Royal Academy of Performing
arts (RAPA).
Thongdroel |
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"They
will be given an opportunity to dance during the Thimphu Tshechu ," said the RAPA principal, Rabjam Thinley Jamtsho.
According
to Dasho Sithel Dorji's book on the origin and description of Bhutanese
mask dances, the Chozhay dance was introduced by Drogoen Tsangpa Jarey
in the 12th century.
According
to legend Tsangpa Jarey's attempt to open the sacred Tsari mountain to pilgrims was thwarted when the guardian deity of the Turquoise Lake,
Yum Tsho, turned into a huge frog and blocked the entrance. Tsangpa
Jarey subdued the frog and opened the Nye. A dance with eleven steps was
introduced to commemorate the event.
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