Himalayan Language and Cultural Program

04/20/2026

We are proud to share a powerful moment of cultural exchange and artistic expression through our partnership with Irish Arts Centers and PS69Q.

Under the guidance of Tibetan Dance Teaching Artist Tashi Thakuri, students at PS69Q embarked on a meaningful residency that culminated in a vibrant performance of S**o Yala a beautiful celebration of the spring season.

This marks a historic milestone: for the first time, Tibetan and Himalayan cultural traditions are being brought to life and made visible within a public school setting. Through movement, music, and storytelling, these young performers honored a rich heritage while embracing the joy and renewal of spring.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made this possible educators, artists, and students for uplifting cultural representation and creating space for diverse voices to shine.

01/09/2026

Exciting Milestone for Our Himalayan & Tibetan Community

The Himalayan Language & Culture Program (HLCP) is proud to share exciting news.

Through HLCP’s advocacy and community partnership efforts, our Music and Dance teacher, Tashi Dhindu བཀྲ་ཤིས། དོན་གྲུབ།will serve as a Tibetan Dance Teaching Artist-in-Residence at PS69Q School in 2026, a powerful and meaningful milestone for our community.

This residency represents more than a teaching opportunity. It marks an important moment of visibility and recognition for the Himalayan and Tibetan community, whose voices and cultural traditions have long been underrepresented. Through this residency, our living heritage is being honored, celebrated, and passed on to future generations within an academic setting.

Tashi Dhindu Thakuri is a Himalayan-born artist, musician, and cultural preservationist with over two decades of experience safeguarding Tibetan & Himalayan performing arts. Trained at the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Cultural Institute (ITBCI) and later at Gangjong Doeghar under the late master Dogha La, he specializes in traditional Tibetan music and dance. He is a master of the Dranyen, Guemang, Piwang, and Tibetan flute, and his artistic journey includes performances across Asia and internationally, contributions to Tibetan Opera (Acha Lhamo), and cross-cultural collaborations with Bollywood and India’s renowned rock band Parikrama.

Since 2022, Tashi has been an integral part of HLCP in Queens, New York, where he teaches traditional music, song, and dance to our youth. He also works closely with HLCP, the Himalayan Elders Project, and the Center for Traditional Music and Dance, collaborating with elders to document and preserve the living history of Himalayan and Tibetan songs and dances.

We extend our deepest gratitude to PS69Q School and the Residency Team for their commitment to cultural inclusion and for creating space for our voices, stories, and traditions. Your support in bringing visibility to our culture means so much to our community.

We extend our sincere thanks to Andrew Colwell la for connecting the dots.

We also extend our heartfelt congratulations to Tashi on receiving a New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) award for his 2026 project. HLCP is deeply proud to be part of this remarkable achievement and to support his continued dedication to cultural preservation, education, and community empowerment.

Thanks to New York State Council on the Arts, Center for Traditional Music and Dance and Himalayan Elders Project.

HLCP looks forward to sharing more exciting announcements and initiatives as we build toward 2026.

09/21/2025

The Himalayan Language and Culture Program is deeply honored to be part of this meaningful initiative by Lo-Nyamship Kyidug, devoted to preserving and celebrating the rich Loke language through music, memory, and community. "The turquoise-blue sky..." This soulful song speaks not only of beauty and devotion, but of a destined connection, echoing the emotional depth and cultural elegance of our Lowa heritage. Even as the world goes through difficult times, we continue to do our part by protecting language, honoring memory, and nurturing hope through culture.




https://youtu.be/7141YJW_pMk?si=4iOEkVFlpwUPTloD.

"Shar Gi Ri Thang Nub Ki Ri." 2025 New Official Music Video of Lo Nyamship Association with NL Films. Upper Mustang Cultural Dance.

06/28/2024

New York Tibetan Ensemble strives to present traditional music and dance forms from across Tibet.

Performed at 9th Annual Brooklyn International Music Fest at Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook 2024.

Thank you Gen Tenzin Jamyang la, Gen Tsering Lodoe la, Gen Tashi Dhondup la and Gen Tenzin Chuney la

Thanks to Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Andrew Colwell la and Miranda la.

06/28/2024

New York Tibetan Ensemble presents Dranyen Shabdro, Tibetan step dance 2024

Thanks to CTMD, Andrew Colwell la, Miranda la, Gen Jamyang la, Gen Tse Lodoe La, Gen Tashi la and Gen Chuney la

06/27/2024

NY Tibetan Ensemble strives to present traditional music and dance forms from across Tibet.

New York Tibetan Ensemble at 🎶 9th Annual Brooklyn International Music Fest at Jalopy Theatre in Red Hook 2024.

Thank you Center for Traditional Music and Dance and Jalopy Brooklyn.

Thank you Gen Tenzin Jamyang la, Gen Tsering Lodoe La, Gen Tashi Dhondup la and Gen Tenzin Chuney la

01/18/2024

Join us to see the award-winning documentary, Pasang: In the Shadow of Everest | Cinema Village - Greenwich Village, NY
The film makes its theatrical debut in New York, NY January 19th-25th, 2024

Ms. Prava Adhikari: our Nepali language teacher will be representing the Himalayan Language and Cultural Program
talking about our work and also moderating a Q&A session with the film's director Nancy Svedsen.

Friends in New York, do Book the ticket for January 21st at 5 pm via .
LOCATION: 22 East 12th Street, New York, NY

https://youtu.be/DLQQR71kxFY?si=zBYfsv_0Zl4eusFC

For more info please check out www.pasangmovie.com

Himalayan Language and Cultural Program is supported by New York State Council on the Arts, Center for Traditional Music and Dance, Endangered Language Alliance

12/18/2023

གངས་ཅན་པའི་གླུ་དབྱངས
Songs from the Land of Snow
Gangchen pa' glu dyangs

Location:
Himalayan Elders Project
41-01 75th St, Queens, NY 11373

Schedule:
10am-12:30pm - Workshop
12:30pm-1:30pm - Lunch
1:30pm - 3pm - Concert

Join us for a captivating celebration of Tibetan and Himalayan regional folk songs at the Himalayan Elders Project in Queens on Wednesday, December 20, from 10am to 3pm. This unique event offers a rare opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of elders from Tibet and the central Himalayas as they share the regional, and rarely heard, songs that they grew up singing, accompanied on the dranyen (Tibetan lute) by talented local Tibetan and Himalayan musicians.

The event unfolds in two parts: a morning workshop and an afternoon concert. During the workshop, elders collaborate with musicians, teaching them their regional songs while the musicians compose dranyen accompaniments. In the afternoon, these newly created pieces come to life in a free public concert, which will also feature solo performances from local musicians and a dranyen shapdro (Tibetan group tap dance accompanied by dranyen). Before the concert, enjoy a free lunch of Himalayan dishes!

Beyond a celebration, this event aims to foster relationships between elders, musicians, and youth, cultivating a wider appreciation for specific regional song genres and styles. It's an opportunity to not only celebrate these regional songs in a new and creative way, but also to pave the way for a lasting collaboration to ensure these cultural treasures circulate within the Tibetan and Himalayan community in NYC and beyond.

Come learn about the incredible and little-known diversity of Tibetan and Himalayan folk singing traditions!

11/29/2023

Announcement:

Registration for 2024 (Spring Semester)

Every Saturday (Jan 6th 2024- June 15th 2024)
Time: 9:00 am-12:30 pm

Location: 8302A 3rd Floor, Broadway, Elmhurst, NY 11373

Contact: 857-277-2405
Email: [email protected]
Web: Himalayan Language & Culture Program

Program supported by Center for Traditional Music and Dance and New York State Council on the Arts

Our Nepali instructor and director: Ms. Prava Adhikari, our Tibetan, Nepali songs, dance, music instructor: Mr. བཀྲ་ཤིས། དོན་འགྲུབ། Ms. Karma Dolma and Ms. Dipti Shrestha.

08/31/2023

Limited seat ..