True story: One afternoon in early 1997, the Dalai Lama visited the Walter Reade Theater at New York City's Lincoln Center. The theater wasn't open for business; director Martin Scorsese was borrowing the place for a private screening of his biopic of the great man, "Kundun." Afterward the guest of honor lingered in the theater gallery to enjoy a quiet moment with some old friends and a few fortunate Lincoln Center staffers. The next day, persons who had no idea what had happened in the gallery the day before kept remarking on the extraordinary sense of tranquility in the room.
Oh yes: How did he like the movie? "Ver' good!"
From the land of the highest reaches, be they the towering Himalayas or the serene majesty of the Dalai Lama, Seattle Center is preparing once again to lay on an exhilarating weekend - Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 23-24, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. - of exotic sights, rituals and entertainments. TibetFest is now an eight-year tradition at the Center. Eight years isn't much of a run when it comes to celebrating an ancient culture like this one, but the Center will do its utmost, starting with a bustling Tibetan-style bazaar.
This year's theme, "Spiritual Music and Dance," weaves throughout the festival, conveying the essence of Tibetan kindness and compassion and reflecting ritual and tradition. The Tibetan plateau, encircled by snow-capped peaks and often called the Roof of the World, is home to a culture known for its connection to nature and spirituality.
"We hope to bring an aura of peace and harmony to the Puget Sound area," says event producer Tenzin Choegyal. "Seattle Center is a magical place where people from all walks of life come to enjoy and experi- ence different aspects of human culture. It's ideal for TibetFest." Choegyal, in Seattle since 1998, was raised in India and is a nephew of the Dalai Lama.
Among the performance highlights will be an appearance by world-renowned Grammy nominee and international recording artist Nawang Khechog. Born in eastern Tibet but now residing in Colorado (by way of India and Australia), the musician calls upon an imposing range of instruments, including the Tibetan long horn, flutes, cymbals, drums and bells - not to mention an instrument he invented, the Universal Horn. Nawang Khechog will be at Center House on Saturday, 1:45-3 p.m., and Sunday, 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
San Francisco's popular Semshug Pundha (Brothers in Courage), a festival favorite, perform spirited traditional Tibetan dances on Saturday at Center House from 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Dedicated to preserving the Tibetan culture, these youth wear colorful costumes and masks and play instruments native to their homeland, which many have never seen.
There also will be "Momo"-making demonstrations by local Tibetan chef Dekyi Thonden from the Dahlia Lounge, who will also conduct hands-on workshops both days at 12:25 p.m. These delightful vegetarian or meat-filled dumplings, among other Tibetan foods, will be available for purchase outside Center House, at the south entrance.
A collection of photographs on the Conference Room level at Center House showcases the natural beauty of Tibet and depicts the dramatic changes that have taken place over the last half-century. And the bazaar, featuring traditional marketplace arts and crafts - prayer flags, handmade bowls, incense, clothing, rugs - will spill out of Center House to the Fisher Pavilion roof.
Children of all ages can participate in activities designed for them. A Tibetan-style tent on the Fisher Pavilion roof features art projects such as sand mandalas, in partnership with Seattle Art Museum.
Remember to cultivate an Asian sense of time here: performance and demonstration schedules are tentative, so you might revisit www. tibetaninwashington.com for updates.
TibetFest is produced by the Tibetan Association of Washington and presented by Seattle Center's Festál and The Seattle Times. For more information, go to the Web site above, or call 444-4059.
