Art Lecture Series: Khaita - Joyful Dances: Investigating their ‘Tibetanness’ and Wellbeing Effects

Khaita - Joyful Dances: Investigating their ‘Tibetanness’ and Wellbeing Effects with Dr. Eva Leick
The practice of ‘Khaita - Joyful Dances’ (short: Khaita) is based on Tibetan songs and dances collected by the Buddhist Dzogchen master and Tibetan scholar Chögyal Namkhai Norbu. Introduced in 2011, the Khaita collection consists of approximately 400 songs and 240 dances. It is mostly practiced and performed within the centers of the International Dzogchen Community around the world by people of all ages, nationalities, social classes and genders, with or without dance experience. In this lecture, Eva Leick will speak about Khaita’s background, origin and development over the last twelve years. She will provide an insight into the various facets of the practice by giving concrete examples. She will then, in particular, refer to her own academic research into the dance practice and investigate the notion of ‘Tibetanness’, meaning Khaita’s connection to Tibetan culture, in more detail. Finally, she will also address the wellbeing effects resulting from dancing Khaita regularly.
About the Speaker
Eva Leick is a researcher and dancer from Austria. She just finished her PhD at the institute of music and dance studies at the University of Salzburg. Her dissertation carries the title Khaita - Joyful Dances: The Evocation of ‘Tibetanness’ and Wellbeing Effects through Tibetan Modern Songs and Dances (2023). She is also an engaged Khaita dancer herself and is currently participating in the Khaita Educational Program to become a Khaita instructor upon completion. Besides Khaita, Eva Leick has professional dance background and is a founding member of the contemporary dance company subsTanz in her hometown Graz, with whom she performs regularly.
Resources:
Khaita digital archive: khaita.com/col...
Khaita main webpage: khaita.org/
Khaita TH-cam channel: / @harmonyinthespace
(nice introduction videos, for example: • What Does Khaita Mean )
(performance video of Khaita at British museum: • Khaita at British Muse... )
Khaita Facebook (with nice pictures): / harmonyinthespace
Khaita Instagram: www.instagram....