FRANCE. Buddhism. Théâtre de Périgueux. The Sacred Tibetan Dances of the Monks of the Monastery of Shetchen, Nepal. Monks performing the "Dance of the Heroes" (Patcham), an acrobatic dance inspired from a vision of paradise of Padmasambhawa that the Grand Master Pema Lingpa had during the 15th century.
They are considered amongst the purest of the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.The monks are here for the first time on a European tour which will include Belgium and Switzerland, and started their performances in Perigueux before visiting other cities. These dances which date from the 8th century, are performed exclusively by by monks, and it is part of their ritual training.During the Chinese invasion of Tibet, where many monasteries were destroyed and the dances forbidden, the tradition was carried over by a handful of older monks who fled to Nepal.