Slovakia: The cultural tour performance of the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) was successfully concluded in Bratislava, the capital city of the Slovak Republic, as part of its ongoing Europe tour programme. On 7 May 2026, the TIPA tour group, led by Director Dondup Tsering and accompanied by the Artistic Director, teachers, and 26 artists, departed from Vienna, Austria, and arrived in Bratislava to present a special evening of traditional Tibetan cultural performances and theatre.

The performance was held at the renowned City Theatre of P.O. Hviezdoslav at 7:00 PM and was attended by distinguished guests, including former Minister of Justice and current Member of Parliament Maria Kolikova, former Minister of Culture Silvia Hroncova, Director of the City Theatre Vladislava Fekete, Member of Parliament Karol Galek, and more than 200 guests from different communities and countries.

During the programme, TIPA artists presented a vibrant showcase of traditional Tibetan songs and dances under the theme “Dance from the Roof of the World,” highlighting the richness and authenticity of Tibet’s ancient cultural heritage. The audience was also deeply moved by a powerful theatre production depicting the reality of the Chinese government’s colonial boarding school policies in Tibet and the ongoing threats faced by Tibetan identity, language, religion, and culture. The theatre dialogues were translated into the Slovak language through subtitles, enabling the local audience to better understand the message and emotional depth of the performance. The programme received enthusiastic appreciation from the audience, many of whom expressed admiration for the richness of Tibetan culture and a deeper understanding of the current situation inside Tibet.

The event was organised by the Office of Tibet Geneva with the generous support of long-time Tibet supporters Csaba Kiss and his wife Suzanne Kiss, based in Bratislava. At the beginning of the event, Representative Thinlay Chukki welcomed the distinguished guests and highlighted the historical significance of the theatre, recalling the visit of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama to the same venue in 2009, where he delivered teachings and guidance to the public.

In her address, Representative Thinlay Chukki explained that the primary objective of TIPA’s Europe tour is to preserve, promote, and strengthen traditional Tibetan performing arts, which were safeguarded in exile under the guidance of His Holiness the Dalai Lama following Tibet’s occupation. She further emphasised that while the Chinese government continues efforts to erase Tibetan identity and misrepresent Tibetan culture abroad through state-sponsored performances, TIPA remains committed to presenting the authentic and original traditions of Tibetan performing arts to the international community.

Following the address, TIPA Director Dhondup Tsering introduced the history of the institute and outlined its ongoing efforts to preserve and promote Tibetan performing arts in exile for future generations. All speeches during the event were translated live into the Slovak language for the audience.

At the conclusion of the programme, TIPA presented traditional Tibetan scarves and souvenirs as tokens of appreciation to the distinguished guests and organisers. The presentations were made by Representative Thinlay Chukki in recognition of their continued support for the Tibetan cause and cultural preservation initiatives.

This cultural visit to Slovakia marks the first-ever performance tour by TIPA in the country in the institute’s history. During the visit, local radio stations also conducted interviews with the TIPA Director and artists, helping to further raise awareness about Tibetan culture and the current situation in Tibet among the Slovak public.

– Report filed by Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts