Arts Program
Living Traditions: Music, Dance & Cultural Arts
Connect with heritage through authentic instruction in Tibetan songs, dances, and traditional instruments.
Program Overview
Keeping Traditions Alive
Living Traditions offers a meaningful and enriching environment where children can connect with their heritage through music, dance, and traditional arts. Designed especially for second-generation Himalayan-American youth, the program provides engaging instruction in Tibetan songs, dances, and a range of traditional instruments.
Classes are taught by experienced artists trained at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA), ensuring both authenticity and a supportive learning experience. This program helps nurture confidence, creativity, and a strong sense of cultural identity, while giving children the opportunity to build community and take pride in their heritage.
More than just instruction, Living Traditions is a celebration of the vibrant cultural expressions that have sustained Himalayan communities for generations.
What We Teach
Instruments & Arts
Our instructors teach authentic Himalayan instruments and performing arts traditions passed down through generations. Each instrument carries cultural significance and a unique sonic landscape.
String Instruments
🎸 Dramnyen
A traditional Tibetan lute with a warm, resonant tone used in secular and religious music.
🎻 Piwang
A two-string bowed fiddle producing haunting melodies central to Himalayan folk music.
🎹 Yangi
A traditional dulcimer with resonant tones, played in many Himalayan musical traditions.
Wind & Percussion
🪈 Flute (Thungmi)
Traditional Tibetan woodwind instrument with a ethereal, meditative quality.
🥁 Drums
Traditional percussion instruments used in celebrations, rituals, and ensemble music.
🎭 Dance & Performance Arts
Learn traditional dances, costume-making, painting, and cultural performance techniques.
Expert Teachers
Learn from TIPA-Trained Artists
Our instructors are experienced artists trained at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) in Dharamshala, India — a world-renowned center for preserving and advancing Himalayan cultural traditions.
Authentic Instruction
Direct lineage of traditional techniques and cultural knowledge.
Patient & Supportive
Teachers create a welcoming environment for learners of all levels.
Professional Performers
Many are working musicians and performers sharing lived experience.
Impact
Why These Arts Matter
For second-generation Himalayan youth, learning traditional arts provides more than entertainment — it's a lifeline to cultural identity, a way to honor ancestors, and a bridge connecting them to a living heritage.
🎵 Cultural Continuity
Ensure these sacred traditions continue to live and evolve with each new generation.
✨ Creative Expression
Music and dance provide powerful outlets for self-expression, confidence, and joy.
🤝 Community Belonging
Build meaningful connections with peers and elders through shared artistic experiences.
Join the Living Traditions
Whether you're picking up an instrument for the first time or deepening your practice, there's a place for you in our Living Traditions community.