Formerly known as the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA), the Traditional Performing Arts and Music Division was formally established under the command of His Majesty the Third Druk Gyalpo Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1954 with ultimate objectives to preserve and promote the traditional performing arts (folk songs, music and mask dances). Since then, the RAPA has been playing a pivotal role in safeguarding the intangible cultural heritage (ICH). The RAPA faculty offers National Certificate and Diploma courses in traditional performing arts. The electives courses offered are Cham (mask dance), traditional folk songs and traditional music. The academy actively participates in national celebration & international cultural exchange events.
Tshering Zangmo T is the Principal of the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA). She holds a Master’s degree in Educational Management from Mahidol University, Thailand; Bachelor’s degree in Education (Secondary) with majors in History and Geography from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Samtse. Before joining RAPA under the Department of Culture, she worked as a Vice Principal at Motithang Higher Secondary School, Thimphu (Feb 2015- Oct 2021), and also served as the officiating Principal at Drujeygang Higher Secondary School, Dagana. She started her career as a History and Geography teacher under the Department of School Education, Ministry of Education. As an educationist, she had an opportunity to serve as School Health In-charge, Rover Leader, and focal person for School Parenting Education Awareness Program (SPEA) under the stewardship of the Department of Youth and Sports, Ministry of Education. She has rich expertise in the area of planning, designing, resource mobilization, implementing, monitoring, and assessing educational programs.
Email id: tzangmot@mohca.gov.bt
Phub Wangdi is the Vice Principal at Royal Academy of Performing since November 2020. Prior to this, he served as a Vice Principal at Daga Central School, Dagana. He holds Master degree in Philosophy from Archarya Nagarjuna University, Andhaperdesh, South India and Bachelor of Education from Paro college of Education, with majored in Dzongkha and Rigzhung. He has rich culture background and served as Master of ceremony in various national events. He earned National Silver Award in Scouting in 2019 and author of five books. He has an experience of good leadership, programing, academic writing and being an anchor. He was a centenary writer and awarded the winner in 2008.
Pema Samdrup is a Sr. Instructor at the Academy at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA). He initially joined RAPA as a trainee in 1996 and after graduation, he has served as an artist and as a Jr. Instructor prior to his present post. His expertise are mainly in traditional music and mask dance field. He holds National certificate II & III Traditional Performing Arts and undergone trainings and workshop in Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette), Dzongkha Unicode and Mask and Folk music. He has represented Bhutan in several regional and international Cultural Programs and he has also participated in Coronation of His Majesty the King Royal and the Royal Wedding program in 2008 and 2012. Besides, he is a recipient of the Best play back singer during the 11th National Film Award (2010) and he has keen interest in singing, composing lyric and tune, choreography, music television direction, shooting and editing.
Duptho Zangmo is known for her expertise in teaching English classes for trainees at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts. She was appointed as an Instructor in the year 2006. She has completed her PGDE, ToT, and Driglam Namzha training. With over 15 years of experience as an Instructor, she has participated in various live cultural programs. In addition to her primary responsibilities, she is a singer and composes songs.
Nim Gyeltshen is known for his expertise in Mask Dance at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts. He was appointed as Artist in the year 1985 and gradually promoted to the current post. He is an awardee of the National Certificate II & III in mask dance from the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources. He conducts training of trainers for the young aspirant trainees. He is well versed in Driglam Namzha and Dzongkha Unicode. With over 25 years of experience as a Mask dance instructor, he has participated in numerous Cultural programs such as Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel Zenam at Punakha (2004), Coronation of His Majesty the King (2008), Opera at El Paso, USA (2014) and various SAARC events. He also teaches mask dances to all twenty Dzongkhag dancers for their performance in the annual Tshechu. In addition to his primary responsibility, he is interested in sensitization of the importance of Bhutanese etiquette and chadri preparation works.
Penjor, Instructor joined the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) in 2012. He was an artist and later appointed as a Jr. Instructor at the RAPA. He holds National Certificate II & III in Traditional Preforming Arts. He underwent trainings in Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette) and Dzongkha Unicode training. He has participated in several national and international Cultural Programs which, some of the remarkable events are Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel Zenam at Punakha (2013 -2015), Coronation of His Majesty the King and Smithsonian Folk life Festival (2008) and Bhutan Week, New Delhi (2018). He occasionally visits all Dzongkhags and imparts mask dances for Tshechu (festival). Besides, he is also expert in carpentry, tailoring, crafting musical instrument, designing costumes, painting, Chadri (ceremonial setting) and as well as setting sound and lights.
Lhamo Dema joined the Division for Cultural Property under the Department of Culture as a data assistant in 2004. She now works for the Royal Academy of Performing Arts as administrative assistance. With over 17 years of experience, she participated in various cultural events in the National day celebrations (2016 and 2019) and Bodhgaya, India (2015 and 2017). She took the additional responsibility of the Liaison officer during the SAARC cultural program and Chinese delegation program at Thimphu.
Pema Lhamo is known for his expertise in folk/classical dance at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts. She was selected as a trainee in 2002, then promoted to Artist, and then as Jr. Instructor in 2006. She is now one of the Sr. Instructor at the Academy. She is awarded National Certificate II & III in mask dance from the Ministry of Labour and Human Resources and has completed ToT, Driglam Namzha, and Unicode training. With over 15 years of experience as an Instructor in Folk/classical dance, she has participated in numerous cultural programs at National and international events such as the coronation of His Majesty (2008), 60th Birth Anniversary of 4th Druk Gyalpo, Royal Wedding (2011), the opening of the Honorary Consul of Bhutan in Germany (2002), tourism festival in Japan (2016), Bhutan week program at New Delhi (2018) amongst others. She is a renowned singer of Bhutan and jury in singing reality competition. She won the best playback singer (11th National Film award), 2010. In addition to her primary responsibilities, she is interested in singing, composing tunes and songs, and choreography.
Sangay Wangmo, Jr. Instructor is known for her folk/classical dance at Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA). She was formally a trainee and an artist of RAPA. She is awarded National certificate II & III in Traditional Performing and completed Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette) and Dzongkha Unicode training. She has represented Bhutan in several national and international Cultural Programs such as; Opera, EL Paso, USA (2014), Smithsonian Folk life Festival (2008), Coronation of His Majesty the King and Royal Wedding ceremonies. She imparts her knowledge to all Dzongkhag’s dancers for the Tshechu Festival and also takes part as a jury member in Singing reality competitions. Besides, she has great interest in participating in theatrical shows, singing, choreography, make up and music television direction.
Sonam Jamtsho is a Sr. Instructor at Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) holding National certificate II & III in Traditional Performing Arts. He initially joined RAPA as a trainee in 1988, an artist in 1989 and then served as a Jr. Instructor in the year 2005. He completed Training of Trainers in Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette) and Dzongkha Unicode training. Being an expertise in folk dance field, he has participated in several national and international Cultural Programs. Some of the important events are; Enthronement of 69th and 70th Je Khenpo of Bhutan, Royal Wedding of 4th King, Expo 2000, Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyel Zenam (2004), Coronation of His Majesty the King and Royal Wedding (2008 and 2011), Smithsonian Folk life Festival (2008) and Bhutan Week, New Delhi (2018). He also visits all Dzongkhags and teaches folk/classical dances and have interest in documentation of performing arts and chadri (ceremonial setting).
Sr. Instructor, Tshering Dorjee is an expert in traditional Music and mask dance currently serving at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA). He first joined RAPA as trainee in 1996 and later became an artist. He was promoted to Jr. Instructor in the year 2007. He was awarded with National certificate II & III in Traditional Preforming Arts and underwent Training of Trainers in Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette) and Dzongkha Unicode training. He has participated several important Cultural Programs in the country and abroad. Besides the daily routine duty, he compose tunes, choreograph folk dances and Nepal songs; and direction of Driglam Namzha MTV.
Ugyen Tshewang is a Sr. Instructor at Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) with the National certificate II & III in Traditional Performing Arts. A trainee in 1988 and later became an artist in 1989 at RAPA. After many years, he was promoted to Jr. Instructor in the year 2005. He has completed Trainig of Trainers in Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette) and Dzongkha Unicode training. He participated in many Cultural Programmes in the country and he has also represented Bhutan in the Cultural Programs aboard. Out of the RAPA premise, he teaches mask dances to all the mask dancers of Dzongkhags and keen interest in Chadri (ceremonial setting) and doing research and documentation of mask dances in the country.
Ugyen Wangmo, Electrical Technician joined the Royal Academy of Performing Arts in 2018 after serving at the Dechencholing Higher Secondary School for 8 years. She is a graduate of Vocational Training Institute, Khuruthang, Punakha and underwent training in Driglam Namzha (Bhutanese etiquette).
Phub Doley joined the Royal Academy of Performing Arts (RAPA) as a Driver in 2012. He was previously a trainee and a store assistant at the RAPA. He is also experienced in procurement work and management of accounts and store.
Nima has been working at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts as Bus Driver since 2019.
Nima serves as the security guard at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts since 2017. He is interested in tailoring and Chadri works.
Yeshi Yangzom is a Janitor at the Royal Academy of Performing Arts since 2017.