Tibetan Hip-hop Dancer Keeps His Roots in Mind

After graduation, he went back to Tibet, where he formed another group, the "Dynasty of Tibet."

In his spare time, Sonam Tseten teaches kids hip-hop moves. He and his fellow instructors have now about 60 students, with the youngest being seven years old.

"In Tibet many children love hip-hop because they say 'it's cool,' but some of their parents were opposed to it at first. They considered the dancing outfits too strange," he said.

But after they saw more and more hip-hop contests on TV, they gradually accepted it, Sonam Tseten said.

"After all, it's a good way of encouraging physical exercise, and could help foster people's perseverance and cooperative spirit."

The young man sometimes composes dance himself. "I deliberately add some Tibetan elements to it," he said. "For instance, I use Tibetan music, and alter the traditional Tibetan robes into dancing costumes."

Now each year Sonam Tseten's group hosts hip-hop dancing contests among Tibetans. "This year we're planning to invite groups from the neighboring Qinghai Province," he said. "Next year maybe we can include groups from Sichuan."

MODERNITY AND TRADITION

Sonam Tseten said his great grandfather was a general of the 13th Dalai Lama, and his great grandmother was from a noble family.

"I have strong religious piety," he said. Each time before a dancing contest, he said he prays in front of a Buddha.

Talking about modernity in Tibet, Sonam Tseten said he believed that it is an unstoppable trend, although even now many people still have little knowledge of Tibet, which has led to a lot of misunderstandings.