In historic first, TIPA participates in 10th National Theatre Olympics
By Yungdung Tsomo
DHARAMSALA, 19 June: Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) has performed for the first time at the 10th National Theatre Olympics in Budapest, Hungary, at their invitation to showcase Tibet’s rich cultural heritage to the international audience.
TIPA with its 22 tour members, led by director Dhondup Tsering and artistic director Tenzin Phuntsok marked their debut at the Theatre Olympics by performing the story of Nangsa Wobum, one of the eight epic classical stories of the Ache Lhamo tradition.
The condensed version of the Nangsa Wobum opera was performed with English and Hungarian subtitles for the international audience.
The report further stated that the TIPA director spoke about the evolution of Tibetan opera and the establishment of the TIPA.
Prior to their debut performance, “Tibetan Opera” was introduced to some 200 attendees, scholars, and intellectuals at a public meeting on 10 June, reports Tibet.net, the CTA’s official website.
The report added that Sophie, the organizing secretary has also highlighted the significance of TIPA’s participation at the Theatre Olympics which is to showcase Tibet’s distinct opera.
Ache Lhamo, the most popular Tibetan performing art, The tradition of performing Ache Lhamo or Tibetan Opera is believed to have started by Thangtong Gyalpo, a Tibetan yogi and mystic in the 14th century to raise funds to build iron suspension bridges to ease travel along the river-infested valleys of Tibet. It was recognised as a world-class masterpiece and added to UNESCO’s intangible cultural heritage list in 2009.
The 10th Theatre Olympics opened in Budapest, Hungary on 16 April. The three-month event boasts 750 productions by 400 theatre, dance and puppet theatre troupes from 58 countries, with 7,500 performers, according to the Budapest Times.
