Rare and Vanishing Nepalese Sacred Dance Reincarnates in PortlandWho: Master Nepalese Dancer and Buddhist priest Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya and Dance Mandal What: Nepalese Ancient Sacred Dance: Performance, Workshop, and Lecture/Slide Presentation Where and When: PerformanceSaturday, August 2, 7:30pmThe First Congregational Church 1126 SW Park Ave Portland OR 97205 Admission: $15 WorkshopSunday, August 3, 2:00pm-6:00pm,Dance Mandal Temple 1405 SE 40th Ave. Portland OR 97214 Admission: $30 Lecture and Slide Presentation by Miranda Shaw:Sunday, August 3, 7:30pmDance Mandal Temple 1405 SE 40th Ave. Portland OR 97214 Admission: by donation - $15 suggested Master dancer and Nepalese Buddhist priest Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya with Dance Mandal presents Sahajananda Nritya Gita, “Spontaneous Bliss of Sacred Dance and Song,” a performance, workshop and lecture/slide presentation of the ancient Nepalese sacred dance tradition, Charya Nritya. Performance:This ancient ritual dance is an esoteric religious discipline that dates back more than 1000 years. It has traditionally been performed and observed only by the priests of Kathmandu Valley and only in hidden temple spaces. With the survival of this dance form threatened by modernization, Prajwal has dedicated his life to bringing this unique Buddhist heritage from the temples of Nepal to the world while maintaining its original purpose as a profound spiritual practice. He founded Dance Mandal in 1996 to preserve and expand this endangered art form and its related traditions. The performance will unveil dances and songs of deities of the Buddhist pantheon that will be revealed for the first time in the U.S., displaying the beauty of compassionate activity, divine power, and profound wisdom. Group and solo dances by Prajwal Vajracharya and Dance Mandal students from the Northwest region will be showcased. This will be the U.S. premier of Charya Nritya with live singers of Charya Giti, the sacred Sanskrit songs that accompany the dance, by local vocalist Rik Masterson and others from the Northwest. Introduction to the dance tradition and narration will be provided by Miranda Shaw, Buddhist scholar and author (Passionate Enlightenment and Buddhist Goddesses of India). Workshop:The workshop will introduce participants to the dance and accompanying songs. Prajwal Vajracharya will guide participants in basic movements and sequences that allow them to experience firsthand the subtle transformative power of this graceful yogic dance form. Designed for persons of any background and physical capability, this workshop brings awareness of the human body as a vessel for the realization of our joyful divine nature. Slide presentation and lecture:Dr. Miranda Shaw, Professor of Religion, Buddhist scholar and award winning author, will speak and present slide photos on Buddhist Goddesses of Nepal, such as the Living Goddess Kumari and Vajra Yogini. The ritual traditions and sacred places in Nepal will be illuminated through her groundbreaking research and female deities of the dance and song tradition of Nepal will also be highlighted. This talk previews Dr. Shaw’s forthcoming book Buddhist Goddesses of Tibet and Nepal. Please join us in celebrating this exquisite sacred art and support its proliferation outside of Nepal. These events are funded through a Regional Arts and Culture Council Project Grant. ###
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