FROM THE ROOF OF THE WORLD Sacred Music & Masked Dance - September-November 2024

In 1924, an extraordinary silent film was made by Captain John Noel documenting the ill-fated attempt at the summit of Mount Everest by climbers George Mallory and Sandy Irvine.  To promote ‘The Epic of Everest’, Captain Noel invited Buddhist monks from Tibet to travel to the west for the very first time to perform their magical masked dance and sacred music at screenings of the film.  

Now, a hundred years later, the monks of Tashi Lhunpo present ‘From the Roof of the World’ featuring the same traditional Cham Dance and monastic music which captivated the pioneering mountaineers a century ago.  A group of Tibetan monks from their exiled monastery in India are now able to share their unique culture with the outside world and present a majestic programme of masked dances and sacred chant with accompanying exhibitions of Tibetan Tantric sand mandalas and interactive workshops.  From mesmerising Buddhist chants to swirling masked dances in ceremonial costumes and accompanied by the sound of ancient Tantric musical instruments, the monks evoke the atmosphere of sacred Tibet providing a fascinating glimpse into an ancient cultural tradition far removed from modern Western society.

From the Roof of the World is a flexible programme of costumed dance and Tibetan monastic music, suitable for all venues.  Duration is 2 hours including a 20 minute interval.