Khantoke: An Evening of Charm and Grace
The accoutrements of the dancers as they perform the respective dances help a great deal in projecting a special flare and in highlighting hand movements, such an essential feature of Thai Dance. In the "Fawn Tian", for example, dancers hold lighted candles, while in the "Fawn Leb" they were six-inch-long brass nails and in the others they make use of various lengths of scarves. The "Fawn Tian" and the "Fawn Leb" were once sacred dances performed at court functions on days of special festivals. Because of their special significance and the similarity of instruments accompanying in the orchestra, they were usually performed on the same day.
The orchestra for both the "Fawn Tian" and the "Fawn Leb" consists of five to seven musicians playing the traditional Siamese instruments of the Glong Aw, the Bpee Mon, the Mon Tapone, the Glong Talod, the Sharb Yai, the Shing and the Mong. The orchestra is always seated in the traditional lotus position with the player of the Ranad, a long xylophone-like instrument, in the center and the others around him. Their dress or the simple color and fabric of the province, in Chiangmai blue, for example; and their position on stage is either to rear or to the side of the dancers. These classical Thai Dance performances can be seen today at various artistic and cultural centers in the Old Chiangmai Cultural Center; at Khantoke Dinner Shows such as those at Lanna Khantoke, Imperial Mae Ping hotel, Lotus P S K Hotel and at certain centers in Chiangmai's Night Bazaar areas such as Galare Food Center. |
|
||||||
Home | Site Map | Sponsors | Feedback | Hot Links | Travel Help | Search Copyright © 1995-2008 Welcome to Chiangmai and Chiangrai magazine All rights reserved.
|
|||||||