Darjeeling Folk Dance & Song

Ganga Sharma

Call: +91-9735602087

Ganga Sharma is 33 years old Sangini Dance artist. She is performing Sangini dance for last 5 years. She specializes in songs which she has learnt from her guru Smt. Tulsi Sharma. She speaks Hindi and Nepali language. In Sangini, a child bride narrates her story of woes to her friends (Sanginis) upon reaching her native village. Sangini dance reflects upon the struggles and hardships faced by child brides at their in-laws’ place. The songs have a narrative structure. Ganga mostly performs in local programmes. She performs in her group known as 'Lower Naya Busty Sangini Toli'.

Ranjana Sharma

Call: +91-9734163739

Ranjana Sharma is 39 years old Sangini Artist and she is practising the form for last 15 years. She has learnt Sangini Dance from her mother-in-law Smt. Dhan Maya. She is educated up to higher secondary level and can speak Hindi and Nepali fluently. She performs mostly in and around Darjeeling.

Hemant Thapa Mangar

Call: +91-8016474965

Hemant Thapa is 41 years old Mangar artist and is associated with the folk art form for the last 10 years. He is a flutist and composes music for the show. He has performed in Delhi and Kolkata. He has performed abroad in Nepal and in Bhutan.

Norbu Tshering Lepcha

Call: +91-8389926694

Norbu Tshering Lepcha is a famous Lepcha dancer in Darjeeling. He has learnt it from his father Sonam Tsering Lepcha, a noted Lepcha dancer and a Padmashree Awardee. Norbu is also a choreographer and teaches dance to the young generation of dancers in the community. He has performed in Kolkata, Bomdilla and Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, Delhi, Guwahati, Shillong, Ranchi, Odisha, Kulu in Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat and Bihar. He has won the state award in 2014.

Kumar Tamang

Call: +91-9679474174

Kumar Tamang is a noted Tamang dancer of Darjeeling. He is a veteran dancer and stated dancing at the age of thirteen. He has learnt the dance from Panca Bahadur who is his guru.He has performed in Kolkata, Darjeeling and Goa. He has made a name for himself in the dance circuit.

Garjan Kumar Mallick

Call: +91-9933132351

Garjan Kumar Mallick is a famous Dhimal dancer. He started his career as an artist while he was in college. Now he is a teacher who imparts training to the young generation in his community. He has performed in Kolkata, Delhi, Guwahati and Bihar. He has also performed in Kolkata Doordarshan programme.

Mukti Nath Sharma

Call: +91-9832685191

Mukti Nath Sharma is 52 years old and practising Balun Dance for last 35 years. He is educated up to Higher Secondary level. He has learnt Balun Dance from his guru Late Bhaban Shankar Sharma. He can speak Nepali, English, Hindi and Bengali. Balun is performed during religious occasions, usually in the evening. There are 12 dancers and a priest, called Purohit. The dance begins after seeking the blessings of the priest and performing a set of rituals. Muktinath Sharma is a very talented artist and specializes in Dance, Drama and Poetry. He performs mostly in local programmes. He has also performed in Sikkim, Darjeeling and Nepal. Mukti Nath Sharma is also the president of Pratibha Prerna Pariwar, a society to promote and preserve the cultural heritage of his community.

Pramila Mallick

Call: 8670825436

Pramila Mallick is a traditional singer of Dhimal community. She has started singing at the age of 20yrs. She learned singing from her family tradition. She has performed at North Bengal University and local area etc. She has a collection of more than 50 traditional Dhimal song. She also teaches the song to younger generation of her native place.

Mani Chandra Rai

Call: 9635591489

M.C. Rai is a Sakewa silli dance expert, trainer and writer from Rimbik Darjeeling. He has started practicing and studying this art form since 1980s from his father in law late Purna Sing Rai and brother is law Saharman Rai from Bijanbari of Darjeeling. He has performed with his team in many places like Darjeeling, Kalimpong, Mirik, Bagdogra, CM’s program at jorthang Sikkim, Namchi and Ranka of Sikkim, Kathmandu etc. He is a prominent writer for the community and he has written many books like Sum Hung Chhamari (Rai and Nepali script), Kiranti Lok Katha ani anya lekh haru (Kiranti folk tale and essays) by J.B. Rai and him. He has received recognition from 2nd International Kranti sammelan for language & culture, Acoustic story telling centre, Akhil Kiranti Rai Sangha etc. He has trained many artist in many places like Mirik(1997), Kalimpong, Kurseong, Darjeeling, Nepal, local area etc.

Tsewang Paljor

Call: 9832094280

Tsewang Paljor is a 68 yrs old Tibetan opera, music and dance specialist from Kalimpong. He is a retired teacher of Central Tibetan Schools Administration under ministry of Human Resource Development. From school he started learning Flute, Dram-nyen(Tibetan lute) and Tibetan opera. He is practicing and teaching this art form for last 20 yrs. He is associated with Gangjong Doeghar (Himalayan Performing Art) and KTOA (Kalimpong Tibetan Opera Association is the first Opera association in India) as a secretary since 1998 and 2000 respectively. He is group leader and narrator for the performance. He has performed many time with his group at Karnataka, Odisha, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal etc.

Samdup Tsering

Call: 9126194132

Samdup Tsering is renowned Tibetan dancer and musician of Kalimpong and associated with Gangjong Doeghar (Himalayan Performing Art). He started learning this art form since 1995 from his father Dogha Bhutia who is renowned for his fine craftsmanship of mask and sculptor and president of Gangjong Doeghar. He can play all traditional instruments like Dram-nyen(Tibetan lute), Piwang (fiddle), Flute, Dhongchen(wind instrument) Bubchen(cymbal), Yangching( dulcimer), Drum etc. He has performed many times with his group at England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Paris, Italy, Australia, Russia, Hongkong, Bangkok, Bhutan, Nepal, all the big cities in India etc. Received recognition from all the places where they have performed.