From the time Buddhism was established in Tibet in the eighth century, adherents have expressed their spiritual devotion and celebrated their culture with dance. The 20th-century diaspora of the Tibetan people made it possible for outsiders to witness these performances, but in the West we often lack the context to explain why these dances exist and what they really mean. Ellen Pearlman immersed herself in this intriguing culture, and here explains the origins and iconography behind the folk and ritual dances, as well as the accompanying music and extravagant costumes. The book's more than 150 reproductions include both contemporary color photos as well as vintage black and white images.