Zhabdro gorgom

Zhabdro gorgom is the circle dance of Bhutan, performed to zhungdra, the slow and melancholic song tradition of the country's highlands. Villagers join hands in a ring and step through measured, graceful movements while a lead singer carries long, ornamented melodies over the dranyen lute, the lingm flute and the yangchen hammered dulcimer. The dance belongs to village festivals, archery matches and communal celebrations, where participation matters more than display and the ring stays open to everyone. Almost its entire recorded legacy rests with a single artist, the Bhutanese traditional musician *Jigme Drukpa*, whose albums document zhungdra singing for an international audience.