A stage photo of modern Tibetan dance drama "Shambhala"

The ethereal sound of Tibetan eagle flute reverberates inside Seoul's national theater. Several dancers in their traditional Tibetan attire jump, gyrate, rotate with their bare feet, and then form an eightfold lotus.

This modern Tibetan dance drama, called "Shambhala," made its debut in South Korea on Saturday night, bringing tranquillity and a piece of nirvana to its audience.

In Tibetan culture, Shambhala, also known as "Shangri-La," means a pure land or paradise that everyone dreams of finding. In Tibetan Buddhism, it is supposed to be found in the eightfold lotus-shaped snow mountain, representing peace, tranquillity and happiness.

In 1993, the English writer James Hilton published the novel, " Lost Horizon," that tells a story about how a veteran British diplomat finds peace, love, and a sense of purpose in a remote community called "Shangri-La." Since then, "Shangri-La," or " Shambhala," has become well-known in the Western world as the symbol of a mythical utopia hidden in an isolated mountain and unspoiled by modern civilization.

Wanma Jiancuo, the 35 year-old Tibetan dancer and choreographer who produced the drama, said the drama "Shambhala" aims to tell people how to make a balance between the material and the spiritual in their quest for inner peace.

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