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Khaita on Tibet Art Live in Prague

Khaita on Tibet art live

Prague, Tibet Open House
November 16th, 2024

On 16th November we were invited to Tibet Open House to dance at the Tibetan artistic afternoon.

This time we felt very responsible, moved and shaken, because we were asked to open and perform in between the unique performances of singer Sonam Dolma, coming originally from nomadic culture in Amdo, poet and activist Tenzin Tsundue, who presented there the new Czech translation of his poetry book Kora and singer and musician Loten Namling, whose alternative rock band Porok Karpo arranged Tibetan songs, some of them are also in collections chosen by our dear Master (MfT 2.05 Yi Re Kyo, M 2.3.09 Tashi Jatson).

We were asked to prepare one of the songs and dance together while Loten was singing. We have chosen the song Tashi Jatson. Clotilde Hubert with Petra Zezulkova adjust the original choreography from Tsering Dolker and Topgyal Gontse. Since the parts of steps were strictly connected to the singing parts, in the case there would be added some repetition more or less, we would be able to react to it and this way we were prepared for different musical arrangement. Also we had many question marks. How we will manage on live with the singer Himself? Will there be any chance to try it before the performance? We had only few minutes before the event started.

Once Loten entered in Tibet Open House, his energy immediately shined through the whole room. He was very friendly and simply shown us, what and how to do, we practiced few times together.

I must say it was the most joyful performance I ever participated, because dancing directly with the singer on the stage is vivid and really magical experience! We all enjoyed that very much.

When Loten Namling called us again on Monday 18th November and asked us to come and dance with him at the stage of Futurum Music Bar, where he had the concert with Czech musicians on occasion of anniversary of velvet revolution, we could not refuse and it filled our hearts with great joy! Part of our group, who lives in Prague went and danced there with him again.

Kateřina Drajsajtlová

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The song-offering to Dalai Lama, whish also was sung by Loten Namling in movie “Looking for a Lady with Fangs and a Moustache” by Khyentse Norbu.

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Dancing on beneficent auction in Prague

Khaita on beneficent auction

Prague, Tibet Open House
November 5th, 2024

We had a wonderful opportunity to participate in beneficent auction, organized at the occasion of 20th anniversary of MOST ProTibet, a charity association, supporting of Tibetan people and culture, including education of children, improving life conditions of elderly seniors, nomads and monks in exile.

Most of the precious objects proposed for the auction where donated by Ladakh families, and the profit went to support the hundred of Tibetan children living in Ladakh.

During the event we performed 3 dances to cheer up public.

After the auction we closed the event with small workshop, when we danced together simple kordros with participants.

We were very happy to become a part of this joyful and successful event.

Text by Kateřina Drajsajtlová, Clotilde Hubert, Nadiia Gnatenko

Photos by Lukáš Masner 

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Events

Supervision & Exam of Khaita Educational Program in Dzamling Gar, April 14 – 21

Supervision and exam of Khaita Educational Program in Dzamlingar

April 17–19, 2024

Photos by Yulia Petrova, Lubomir Mishna, Lourdes, Monika Marcik, Gisela Martinez, Sharina Techer, Carlos Garcia 

Photos from the exam

The supervision and exam for the students of the first cycle of Khaita Educational Program took place on April 1719 in Dzamling Gar, Tenerife.

Examinees explained simple and complex dances, shared their understanding of Khaita principles, knowledge of its history, goals and other aspects, and explained the basic Khaita movements.

The final task was to study and perform together a dance with complex choreography, Tashi Thogang Nyiwod (བཀྲ་ཤིས་མཐོ་སྒང་ཉི་འོད།, Auspicious Highland Sunshine), which was especially challenging due to the students living in different countries. We performed the dance on the graduation ceremony.

Newly graduated instructors Eva Leick and Martina Krejčová share sharing their impressions and a story of intensive preparation and successful passing of the exam in The Mirror article

Graduation ceremony: video and photos (below)

Congratulations to the new instructors:

  • Issa Cox (Peru)
  • Janina Parejo (Spain)
  • Anna Jiresch (Austria)
  • Alessandra Policreti (Spain)
  • Eva Leick (Austria)
  • Nadiia Gnatenko (Hungary, Ukraine)
  • Clotilde Hubert (France)
  • Katerina Drajsajtlova (Czech Republic)
  • Martina Krejcova (Czech Republic)
  • Sharina Techer (France) 

Having a great time together while preparing to the exam and after it.

After exam we went to Khaita picnic on Teide, and tried to shoot the video for to complex dances — Jidkai Trinsang and Choelka Sum. Though the weather was not favourable, we enjoyed dancing, talking, delicious food and great company.

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Losar 2024

Losar 2024

Happy New Year of the Wood Dragon!​

Khaita Wood Dragon, watercolour by Cindy Faulkner

The Tibetan dragon (or Druk) is a symbol of power and of hidden, intangible knowledge. Being invisible, he manifests himself through sound and energy. The dragon thunders in the sky with the sound of compassion that awakens us from delusion and increases what we can understand through hearing. Thus, it is said that dragons bring forth our awareness towards the things that we cannot see.

“When spring begins, one hears thunderstorms. Live on! When this happens, rain falls, and rain is very important for nature, for maturing and for life. And rainbows, lights, and colours appear everywhere. … thunder, rain, and rainbows appear, which are all typical manifestations of the dragon.”
— from Chögyal Namkhai Norbu’s commentary to the song Ema Lha Gyallo

Losar is a great time for dancing and singing to bring fortune and peace to the new year. Below are videos and photos from this year Losar performances and celebrations.

Venice Dragon

Khaita performance in Prague Tibetan House

Losar celebration in France

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Events

Special Workshop in Vienna

Special Workshop in Vienna and online

July 3-9, 2023

On July 8-9 Samdrubling (Austria) hosted an open Khaita 𝗪𝗘𝗘𝗞𝗘𝗡𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗣 led by participants of 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗞𝗵𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗮 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 under supervision of Adriana Dal Borgo.
 
“This meant that we had to pick several dances and materials to include in the workshop. This is not an easy task at all given that there are around 400 songs to choose from and a wide range of important information to select! The preparation of the material was further challenging.
 
The weekend workshop proved to be a fantastic, new and slightly stressful experience. On Saturday, thirteen people, both from inside and outside the International Dzogchen Community, came to learn Khaita with us. We managed to study six dances, with which we introduced the basic and lateral steps with several arm variations and also included aspects of formation such as moving in two circles and meeting each other while dancing.
 
We received great feedback on Sunday from the new Khaita enthusiasts about our teaching skills and how we managed to evoke joy through the dances..”
 
Eva Leick for The Mirror:
Archive

We are happy to invite you to participate in the Special Workshop on Khaita Joyful Dances, in Vienna or online on July 8-9.
This workshop is a unique opportunity to experience the Khaita spirit in an international group of Khaita experts.
It will happen as a part of the 3-year Khaita training, final year students teach, under the supervision of the course director Adriana dal Borgo.

You will learn the basic steps and simple circle dances. The workshop is suitable for beginners as well as for slightly advanced dancers.

Course location: Samdrubling, Friedrich-Kaiser-Gasse 74, 1160 Vienna
Course times: Sat July 8, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. | Sunday July 9, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Course fee: donation according to financial possibilities – approx. 25€ for both days.
Course language: (simple) English

Please bring: comfortable clothes to sweat in (does not have to be sportswear). In the studio no street shoes – for dancing we recommend all kinds of dance or gymnastic shoes that give good support. Barefoot is possible, but can be disadvantageous for certain turning movements.

Info & Registration: wien@dzogchen.at