Seattle Center Festál: Tibet Fest To Feature R&B and Yak Dancing 8/28-29

Tibet's ancient and modern history is woven into Seattle Center Festál: Tibet Fest through a synthesis of traditional performance with modern song, music and discussions of the Tibetan people, Aug. 28 - 29, 11 a.m. - 6 p.m., in Center House and Fisher Pavilion.

Symbolic masks, arts and crafts, sand mandala demonstrations by Tibetan monks, children's activities and traditional foods, along with prayer flags and expert speakers, illuminate the culture's foundation in Buddhism.

H.H Sakya Dakchen Rinpoche, head of Sakya Sect, will bless the opening ceremony. Seattle Center Director Robert Nellams will welcome guests and Tibetan artists from Minnesota will present Tashi Shoepla - a good luck dance performed with colorful masks and dresses. The dance has been presented since the time of the fifth Dalai Lama, in 1642.

Tibet Fest features Tibet's best known R&B singer, Phurbu T. Namgral, along with several traditional dance troupes and singers. The two-day festival also offers "Narrative Glimpses of Tibet" exploring the Tibetan government in exile and the rights and responsibilities of women in Tibet, and workshops on community circle dances.

The 22 Festál cultural celebrations highlight The Common forms of tradition and expression among ethnic communities in the Pacific Northwest, while underscoring their unique creative contributions, customs, foods and ideals. Our 2010 "Did you know" will explore some of these commonalities and differences.

Did you know? The two most-favored colors of the culture are yellow and blue. The traditional staple food of Tibet is Tsampa, roasted barley flour mixed with yak-butter tea. Tibetans also like to eat Yak meat and mutton, yoghourt and milk sediment. The half-moon shaped "ravioli or dumpling" called momo, filled with meat, vegetables and ginger, is the most famous and popular Tibetan food. The greatest soure of cultural pride is in kindness, compassion and love, intertwined in the Tibetan culture. Tibet maintains a subsistence livelihood built around agriculture and services.

Seattle Center Festál: Tibet Fest is presented by Seattle Center in partnership with the Tibetan Association of Washington. For a full event schedule, visit washingtontibet.org, and for more information on this cultural series and other Seattle Center programming, click on www.seattlecenter.com/festal or call 206 684-7200.

About Seattle Center Festál

Seattle Center Festál, a series of 22 world festivals presented at Seattle Center on weekends throughout 2010, highlights the distinct cultures and common threads of ethnic communities in our region through traditional and contemporary art, music, foods, youth activities, workshops and more. This collection of cultural events is produced with the generous support of Wells Fargo, Verizon Wireless and KUOW 94.9 Public Radio. Additional support is provided by Seattle Center Foundation and the City of Seattle.