Don't Miss: Bhutanese Dancing Monks on NYC Streets

9/12/08 - By Anna Fader

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Sometimes the streets of NYC can be the most magical place in the world. This will become true for the next nine days when Bhutanese ritual dancers will be appearing throughout the city every day to perform their mesmerizing ancient Tantric Buddhist demon subjugation dance, called Cham. The elaborate costumes of the 13 monks who will be performing are enough to make this event spectacular, but the performance, a kind of danced yoga, makes this a once in a lifetime occurrence.

Bhutan is a tiny, secretive and isolated kingdom in the Himalayas, with very little outside influence and extremely limited tourism is allowed, making the opportunity to see the Bhutanese monks dancing on the streets of our city, for free, an absolutely not to be missed opportunity.

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The first performance Cham! The Ritual Dances of Bhutan will take place on Saturday, September 13th at the Fulton Ferry Landing in DUMBO at 4pm and there will be a performance every day in a different location through September 21st.

In addition to the dances, The Rubin Museum of Art will be hosting a corresponding exhibit, opening September 19th, and family workshops every Saturday. This Saturday, September 13th, the workshop is Bhutanese Clothes where children will learn about and be able to try on traditional Bhutanese garb and then get o design their own Bhutanese -inspired duds. Bhutan! Family Workshops take place every Saturday at 2pm now through November 22 at the Rubin Museum of Art.

And Bhutan! Family Day at RMA will be on October 11th with a full day of activities and fun to immerse kids in the Bhutanese experience.

Here is a schedule of the upcoming free Cham Dance Performances on NYC streets. For more information about these performances, the exhibit and family programs visit www.rmanyc.org

 

 

 

Saturday, September 13

4:00 p.m. performance at Fulton Ferry Landing pier, Brooklyn (DUMBO district)

Subway: 2 or 3 to Clark St.; A or C to High St.

 

Sunday, September 14

2:00 p.m. Flushing Meadow Corona Park(Unisphere, Queens)

 

Monday, September 15

12:30 p.m. performance, Foley Square

(Intersection of Duane Street, Lafayette Street, Centre Street, and Pearl Street)

Subway for Foley Square: 4, 5, 6, J, M, Z to Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall

 

4:00 p.m. performance, South Street Seaport

(Pier 17 and South Street)

Subways for South Street Seaport: 2, 3, 4, 5, J, M, Z to Fulton Street

A, C to Broadway/Nassau, Walk East on Fulton Street to East River

 

Tuesday, September 16

4:30 p.m. performance, New York Public Library

Subway to New York Public Library: B, D, F, Q, or 7 train to Bryant Park

 

Wednesday, September 17

12:30 p.m. Brooklyn Borough Hall

(public plaza at base of Borough Hall steps)

Subway to Borough Hall: 4, 5 train to Court Street/Borough Hall or

A, C, or F train to Jay Street/Borough Hall

 

Thursday, September 18, 1:00 p.m. performance, Columbus Park

(Mulberry Street between Bayard Street and Worth Street)

Subway for Columbus Park: 4, 5, 6, J, M, Z to Brooklyn Bridge

 

Friday, September 19, Battery Park

Subways for Battery Park: 1 to South Ferry; 4, 5 to Bowling Green; R, W to Whitehall Street

 

12:30 p.m. performance, Battery Gardens Plaza

(On the harbor, inside Battery Park, opposite from 17 State Street)

 

3:00 p.m. performance, in front of Castle Clinton

(Enter Battery Park at Broadway and State Street)

 

5:00 p.m. performance, Battery Place sidewalk

(Corner of Greenwich Street and Battery Place at the entrance of Battery Park)

 

9:30 p.m. Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden

Astoria, Queens

Subway for Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden: N to Astoria Blvd. Walk one block, past Staples, to 24th Avenue and turn left. The Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden will have American & Czech flags in front.

 

Saturday, September 20, 1:00 p.m. performance, Merchant’s Gate, Central Park

(Central Park South and Central Park West, across from Columbus Circle)

Subway for Merchant’s Gate: A, C, 1, 9, B, D to Columbus Circle/ 59th Street

 

5:30 p.m. Socrates Sculpture Park

Astoria, Queens

Subway for Socrates Sculpture Park: N or W to Broadway in Queens

 

Sunday, September 21

11:00 a.m.

Liberty Island (Flag Pole Plaza)

Liberty Island is accessible by ferry service only. Purchase round-trip ferry tickets at the Statue Cruises ticket booth inside Castle Clinton National Monument in Battery Park or at the Statue Cruises website (http://www.statuecruises.com).