The singers of Tibet's Drepung Loseling Monastery, who travel the country to promote peace, will perform "Sacred Music and Sacred Dance" Wednesday (May 17, 2006), 7 p.m., at the James A. Little Theater in Santa Fe to help benefit the World Peace Conference September 22-24, 2006. Tickets for the performance are $20 and are available at the door or at the Ark Bookstore.
The Drepung Loseling monks wear magnificent costumes and play traditional Tibetan instruments while performing ancient temple music and dance. Their performance, which includes multi-phonic singing chant masters, transcends time and place. They also utilize traditional instruments, such as 10-foot long dungchen trumpets, drums, bells, cymbals and gyaling horns. Rich brocade costumes and masked dances, such as the Dance of the Sacred Snow Lion, add to the exotic splendor. The purpose of the tour is to contribute to world healing and peace movements; generate a greater awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization; and raise support for the refugee community in India.
The Sacred Music Sacred Dance tour is sponsored by Richard Gere Productions, Inc. and Drepung Loseling Institute, the North American Seat of the Drepung Loseling Monastery, with the blessings of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The purpose of the tour is to contribute to world healing and peace movements, to generate a greater awareness of the endangered Tibetan civilization, and to raise support for the refugee community in India.
State Sen. Shannon Robinson of Albuquerque, who introduced legislation during the 2005 and 2006 sessions to help secure support to help fund the World Peace Conference in Santa Fe through the New Mexico Tourism Department (NMTD), will introduce the monks and announce the World Peace Conference. Up-to-date information regarding the conference will also be provided.
"The World Peace Conference will create a world stage that brings together governmental and non-governmental agencies, civil society and religious groups to promote the ideals of peace and nonviolence," Sen. Robinson said.
The theme for the three-day conference is Giving Peace a New Face. Planned for the chambers of the House of Representatives and the Senate at the New Mexico State Capitol Building and other locations in Santa Fe, the conference will explore the many facets of peace and introduce the concepts of building environmentally sound, sustainable, peace-based economies. Nobel Peace Laureates and other dignitaries from around the world will be in attendance. The program will be announced at the concert.
"This conference will have a great impact on the state's tourism economy," said Michael Cerletti, secretary of NMTD. "It will also offer people from around the world a place where they can come together to join in expressing their desire for change."
Ymelda DeVargas, special projects director at NMTD, is overseeing the organizational aspects of the conference. "The conference design will provide participants with the information and structure necessary to become active and involved as we all work towards creating the new face of peace," DeVargas said.
For more information about the concert or the conference, contact Ymelda DeVargas, 505-827-7340.
