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| Tsering Dickyi (left) and Tsering Wangmo (right) |
The ceremonial dance and song of the Kongpo region of Tibet are performed on special occasions, particularly at Losar, the Tibetan New Year. These songs and dances, which are part of the traditional life of the peoples of the Kongpo region, are particularly important to teach because they are being eradicated by the ruling Chinese. As a young Tibetan refugee in India, Tsering Wangmo learned these dances from watching her elders in the refugee camps. She later studied traditional Tibetan music, dance and opera at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts in Dharamsala in Northern India, and she now crusades to keep Tibetan culture alive in California.
Tsering Dickyi, her apprentice and sister, was also raised and trained in India, and although she is very skilled in the dance forms of other regions of Tibet, she wants to learn the dances of the Kongpo region.
The following photos were taken during a recent visit by Amy Kitchener, ACTA Executive Director.
| Tsering Wangmo ties a sash around Apprentice Tsering Dickyi’s traditional Tibetan dress. Dickyi is Wangmo’s younger sister. |
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Apprentice Tsering Dickyi (right) is already an accomplished traditional Tibetan dancer. However, she does not know the songs and dances of the Kongpo region, which are thousands of years old. Tsering Wangmo (left) is teaching her apprentice ceremonial songs and dances to celebrate special occasions, primarily Losar, the Tibetan New Year. |
| Master Tsering Wangmo (left) and Apprentice Tsering Dickyi (right) meet twice a month in San Francisco to conduct their lessons. They are preparing to perform at the Academy of Science in Golden Gate park on October 18, 2003. |
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