The Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts was founded by Tenzin Gyatso on reaching Dharamsala, India in exile from Tibet in August 1959.

It was established to attempt to preserve Tibetan artistic heritage.

The new opera company brought together the talents of both professional and competent amateur performers and became a major source of entertainment in the Tibetan refugee camps and staged numerous performances of the traditional Lhamo operas. These lively, all day performances brought colour, laughter and a reminder of home into the lives of the refugees.