Dance Mandal Boise Ensemble

Charya Nritya

Under the spiritual direction of Prajwal Ratna Vajracharya, Dance Mandal Boise Ensemble practices a sacred Buddhist dance form that for hundreds of years has been virtually unknown outside the circles of those who perform it. This ancient ritual dance dates back over 1000 years and is a religious discipline of the priests of Kathmandu, who perform the dance as part of their esoteric meditation practices, ceremonies, and rituals.

The Newar Buddhist priests belong to the original ethnic group of the Katmandu Valley in Nepal and are known as Vajracharyas, or masters of the Vajrayana. These yogic practitioners dance in a state of deep meditative awareness in order to embody the living presence of the compassionate, peaceful, and fierce divinities of the Vajrayana Buddhist pantheon.

Technically known as Charya Nritya, which means "dance as a spiritual discipline," this sacred dance form is a meditation discipline, vehicle of bodily and spiritual transformation, and opportunity for an audience to experience a vision of divine beauty.

Dance Mandal Boise Ensemble’s mission is to help preserve and keep this rare tradition alive so that future generations may benefit from meeting, studying and practicing the sacred art of Charya Nritya.

Dance Mandal Boise Ensemble offers performances at cultural events and ceremonies and is available to give Charya Nritya presentations at schools, community and religious centers and special events.  Please contact our ensemble if you would like us to participate at your upcoming event or festival.