Cham Dance
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The Cham Dance, associated with some sects of Buddhism, is a lively dance which employs dancers wearing masks and ornamented costumes. The dance is accompanied by music played by monks using traditional Tibetan instruments. The dances often offer moral instruction relating to non-harm to sentient beings and are said to bring merit to all who observe them. They also often depict incidents from the life of Padmasambhava, the 9th century Nyingmapa teacher and other saints. [1]
Chams are considered to be a form of meditation, and an offering to the Gods. The leader of the cham is typically a musician, keeping time using some percussion instrument like cymbals, the one exception being Dramyin Cham - where time is kept using dramyin. [1]
In Bhutan, the dances are performed during an annual religious festival known as Tsechu, which is held in each district. Only monks or male members of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts are allowed to perform a Cham dance in Bhutan. [1]
Cham dances are considered illegal in Tibet by the governing body of the Peoples Republic of China.
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Dancing on the demon's back: the dramnyen dance and song of Bhutan, by Elaine Dobson, John Blacking Symposium: Music Culture and Society, Callaway Centre, University of Western Australia, July 2003
