The Guru mTshan brgyad 'chams at Rewalsar. The annual performance of the Guru mTshan brgyad 'chams at Rewalsar dates from a visit by sTag-lung-rtse sprul Rin-po-che on bDud-'joms Rin-po-che's request, for the purpose of instructing the monks. In 1982, only two of the monks actually dancing (not including the musicians) had received teaching at this time, but each year, practices were organised, and monks who had not previously danced could learn. The then caretaker monk,28 who was one of the original practitioners and clearly a talented dancer, began a practice group during the twelfth Tibetan month.

The group of six practised in the courtyard for about one hour every evening, with the caretaker monk demonstrating the steps of the Black Hat (Zhva nag) dances, and in a good-humoured way, imitating clumsiness to show how not to dance. Three had never previously participated in a 'chams, and the oldest of these eventually dropped out and joined the monks providing the musical accompaniment on the tenth day. There was, in fact, a shortage of monks, since a few were in the monastery's retreat, and when the senior dbu-mdzad ("Head monk", or "Master of Ceremonies" in the context of much monastic ritual) was prevented by back trouble from providing further coaching, there was some uncertainty as to whether there would be a 'chams at all. The practices were interrupted for two days, but when the slob-dpon (the "Vajra Master", in charge of the monastery's ritual practice) returned from his visit to Nepal, he decided that the 'chams should go ahead, even if some of Guru Padma's aspects might not be able to dance; and he asked one of the monks in retreat to come out for the practice session (which began a week before the 'chams), to provide the final instruction.

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