Thai dances - a great art form of the kingdom of Thailand

The traditional dances of Thailand have their roots in indigenous tribal cultures, and have been enriched by the influence of neighboring cultures - India, Burma, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia. Although Thai dances practically fully retain the basic principles of Asian folk dance, they are distinguished from others by their special, graceful choreography.

Dance is an integral part of Thai culture at every level. Thanks to royal patronage, some dances have been preserved in their original form for many centuries. At the same time, people living in the countryside have created and cultivate to this day original folk dance forms generally known as Rabam Phun Muang.

The country is divided into four main regions, and each has its own collection of folk dances used in festive ceremonies, annual festivals, or for entertainment purposes, conveying favorite stories from the Ramayana and other epics. Generally speaking, dances from the northern part of Thailand are characterized by movements that emphasize the elegance and fluidity of the dancers, while southern and northeastern dances tend to be more active and often include humorous elements. The choreography of Central Thailand's folk dances reflects the agricultural view of the nation's life in the area.

Here is a brief overview of Thai dances by region, each boasting a wide range of dance styles:

Dances of Central Thailand

Si-Nuan - a typical dance of Central Thailand. It is extremely popular due to the wonderful choreography that accompanies each dance lane. The music and performance show the subtlety of the character of Thai women and the feelings of a young man enchanted by their beauty.
Tot-Tung - Drum Dance. The drum is one of Thailand's typical traditional musical instruments. It is played throughout the country and is the one that leads dance processions during folk festivals.
Village Dance - Farmers' Dance. A contemporary dance created at the request of Thailand's Ministry of Culture. The dancers are dressed in the traditional costumes of peasants working in the rice fields, and the dance shows their work. Rice cultivation is the mainstay of the country's agriculture. The performance begins with a scene of plowing a field and sowing rice grain. To make sure the grain will grow well, the farmers gather to bring a prayer to Mea Bhosop, the goddess protector of rice. At the end of the dance performance, with songs and dance, the harvest takes place.
Rabam Vichanee - Dance of the Palm Fans. A folk dance that was originally performed by dancers in the royal palace only before the king. In graceful movements, they depict the various uses of this particular fan. At one time, the palm leaf fan was only used in the royal palace, whose gardens grew this unique species of palm tree.

Dances of Northeast Thailand

Serng Kratip Khoa dance. It is performed during folk festivals. The word "serng" means a homemade vessel, which the dancers use as a prop. In the case of "serng kratip," the performers carry traditional rice baskets, just called "kratip." The dance depicts the movements of women carrying food to men working in the fields. It is accompanied by rhythmic music of drums, cymbals, castanets and gongs.
Forn Puh Thai dance. An expressive dance from ancient times that originated in areas inhabited by the Phu Thai tribe. Today it is danced to start various ceremonies especially in cities such as Kalasin, Nong Khai and Sakorn Nakorn. The dancers use gorgeous black and red folk costumes as their costumes.
Ram Lao Ga Top Mai Dance - Bamboo Dance. A dance originating from the Mekong region, or the northeast of Thailand and Laos. It is danced in the evenings for entertainment after field work has been done. The costumes of the dancers, are Thai-Lao folk costumes.
Serng Krapo - Dance with Coconuts. "Krapo" means coconut in the northeastern dialect. The dance depicts the behavior of young girls at a release from Isaan province. The dancers hold two halves of a nut in their hands, performing complex choreography with them - shaking, tossing or tapping them. They are accompanied by the sounds of the "pong lang," a vertical xylophone.

Dances of Northern Thailand

Fon Sao Mai - Silk Weaving Dance, a characteristic of the region. It is performed by a group of dancers, with their movements being very slow, graceful, almost meditative. The choreography illustrates the traditional occupation of women in the northern region - silk weaving. For many generations, silk production has been a major industry here and in neighboring Laos.
Dancing with Nantha-Peri and Pu-Cha drums. Nantha Peri, is a particular hand drum in northern Thailand that is used for two purposes: to carry the spirit of warriors before battle and during religious ceremonies to honor the Buddha. The Pu-Cha drum, on the other hand, is the musical instrument of several tribes living in the northern regions: the Tay Yai, Tai Lue and Tay Yan. Among other things, it accompanies the Sword Dance and. Kai Lai.
King Ka Lai Dance. It is performed by women, and its main emphasis is on the hand gestures and steps of female dancers dressed in beautiful, fan-shaped costumes. As in many other Thai dances, the dancers' fingers display long, curved nails, and their heads wear distinctive high gold headdresses.
Ram Choeng Thien - Candle Dance. Typical of the Thai Kheun tribe, it is performed in honor of the Buddha. The dance symbolizes a request to the Buddha to fulfill a wish. If the request is granted, the candles will burn; if the request is denied, the candles will go out.

Dances of Southern Thailand

Nora dance (also known as Menorah). The dramaturgy is based on the content of the Manohra epic, which can be found in old Sanskrit-written works. The choreography of the dance varies from region to region, but is generally based on 12 dance positions and 17 steps.
Ram Kien Pral - an advanced level of Nora dance usually performed as a competition between two groups of dancers. The composition of the dance, it is a ceremonial ritual designed to discredit the opponent and raise the spirit of the members of one's own group. It also has a specific religious meaning evident in the style of the dance.
Ram Ronn Rae - Dance of the Mine Workers. This dance originated in southern Thailand on the border with Malaysia. Both the music and costumes are a blend of the two regions. The dance movements symbolize the work of Thai tin prospectors. Like gold prospectors, they wash tin from the ground using special vessels.
Ram Sat Cha Tri - A dance in honor of the teacher. It is performed by students of a classical dance school in front of the teaching staff as a thank you for their teaching. The dancers dance in pairs.