Glencairn Museum opens on Sunday for an authentic Tibetan Yak Dance

Glencairn Museum, devoted to the history and art of world religions, is changing its schedule to include being open on Sundays, and they’re offering a unique event to celebrate. A Romanesque “castle,” Glencairn was first built as a private home in the early 20th century in Bryn Athyn, a small town in the northeast suburbs of Philadelphia.

On September 7, the first Sunday Glencairn will be open for guided and self-guided tours, the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia Dance Ensemble will appear. The 30-minute performance of a traditional Yak Dance will feature dancers of all ages, many from families who are members of the Tibetan Association of Philadelphia.

The Yak Dance is one of several animal-named folk dances handed down from generation to generation in Tibet, each with their own meaning and purpose. The yak, a ubiquitous long-haired bovid of central Asia, is symbolic of the Tibetan spirit of rugged strength, playfulness, and peaceful coexistence. The yak dance is traditionally performed as a welcoming.

The Tibetan Association of Philadelphia previously has been included in Glencairn events. For several years, Losang Samten, a Buddhist monk living in Philadelphia, has created a sand mandala over several days and then disassembled it according to tradition during the Museum’s annual Sacred Arts Festival. That event, held each spring, explores a variety of religious art from the present and the past.

Glencairn Museum, at 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA, is open from 1 to 4:30pm on Sunday, September 7. The Dance Ensemble will perform at 3:30pm, with free refreshments. For more information, call 267-502-2600 or visit glencairnmuseum.org.