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Bhutanese
Folk , Drum and Mask Dance
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Bhutan Culture |
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Bhutan Information |
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Drametse
Ngachham: Bringing uniformity to NgaChham
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| Tshechu:
Mask dance |
| The mask
dance of the drums from Drametse as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible
cultural heritage of humanity during its third proclamation held in Paris
on November 25, 2005.
The
dance has also received a separate award of US $ 30,000 from Korea.
Bhutan's
candidature file for the event was prepared by a team from the institute
of language and cultural studies. |
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For
six hours every day, 20 men take to the Drametse monastery's courtyard,
learning the precise steps and movements of the Ngachham or 'Dance of the
Drums', one of many sacred dances performed during tshechus (religious
festivals).
These
men are all mask dance schoolteachers (chhampoens), who have performed
the Ngachham many times over but in varied versions as prevalent in different
parts of the country.
Now,
the idea is to standardize the dance, in both movements and duration, as
originally performed in Drametse, Mongar, the place from where it started,
so that by the end of 2008 the performance is the same, no matter where
in the country it is performed.
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bringing uniformity to the Ngachham, which has 21 stanzas, in two months
may be difficult, say the chhampoens. They began a two-month training under
two veteran Ngachham performers from December 25.
The
more difficult part is changing the dance steps and movements to which
they have become accustomed, said Tenzin Jamtsho, a dance teacher for the
Institute of Language and Culture Studies in Semtokha. |
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"What
we'd learnt before and what we're learning now is totally different," said
Dorji Lethro, a dance teacher from Punakha. "It's confusing."
The
veteran instructors teach a stanza or phase daily from 9 am to 4 pm. Instructor
Gomchen Phuntsho, who has performed Drametse Ngachham for the past 13 years,
agreed that it might be difficult for teachers used to their own steps
and movements.
For
centuries, the Drametse Ngachham was performed only in the place of its
origin. Some time in the mid-20th century, the dance flourished and spread
to other parts of the country. Two years ago, UNESCO proclaimed the dance
as a masterpiece of the oral and intangible cultural heritage of humanity.
The
Drametse Ngachham was initiated by Lam Kunga Gyeltshen, also known as Khedup
Kinga Wangpo, who is believed to have visualized in a dream the dance being
performed in front of Guru Rinpoche at Zangdopelri.
Lam
Kunga Gyeltshen was a brother of Ani Choeten Zangmo, the great-grand-daughter
of Terton Pema Lingpa, who founded Drametse monastery in 1511. The two-month
training of the chhampoens is being funded by UNESCO.
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| This
article was contributed by Rinzin Wangchuck, KUENSEL, Bhutan's National
Newspaper, January 2008 |
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