Tag: performing arts

Thai Performing Arts: Thai Dancing

August 1, 2014

On thing that I really like about Thailand is how proud Thai people are of their culture. I’m always asked what I think of Thai food, I’m eagerly included in events at the wat (including funerals and weddings for people I have never met) and when I ask questions about things I don’t understand the explanations are free flowing. But there is one thing that I find especially impressive, and I’ve noticed it a lot more lately as I’ve attended more festivals: the pride in Thai traditional dancing.

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Thai Performing Arts: Nang Yaai, Shadow Plays

July 29, 2014

There is a specialized form of performing arts that is a bit of a dying breed in Thailand: the nang yai (หนังใหญ่) shadow puppet plays. A friend had told me about stuff he had read about this art form and we briefly talked about trying to go to a performance before he left, but it never materialized. However, as I’ve tried to soak up as much of the cultural as I can this year, I made a trip to Wat Khanon in Ratchaburi, one of the few places that has performances this last weekend.

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Bpai Tiao Video: Thai Nang Yaai Shadow Play

July 27, 2014

In Thailand, a bpai tiao is a trip of any length. I’ve written about some of my more significant bpai tiaos to tourist destinations here, to be used as travel ideas and tips.

In the planning for this year’s Thai Youth Theatre Festival, we decided to do a workshop on shadow puppets. This was included because we learned about a traditional Thai performance art called nang yaai, which literally means “big skin.” Shadow puppets are created out of animal hides and used to perform traditional stories. After a quick search, I discovered Wat Khanon in Ratchaburi does weekly performances and I had to check it out.

Thai Performing Arts: the Khon, a masked play

July 25, 2014

Last year, during Pre-Service Training, my cohorts and I were treated to performance of the khon (โขน). The theater was absolutely freezing and the performance was around three hours with no intermission. We were told that it was something special, that it’s not a common thing to get to go see, but after a year and a half in Thailand, I’m realizing how special it is, especially for someone with an interest in theater and performing arts, because this performance is the one of the only strong traditions of theater arts in Thailand.

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