[Coollabioto]

I forgot to mention that me and my wife also saw the Phuket Fantasea show last November. AMAZING. It's a 'must see' for anyone going to Phuket. We will never forget it and I am sure that one day we will go and see it again.

[Les Allen]

We have that dance in my country too! Its pretty popular in Nagaland, Mizoram and north-east states. We call it the Bamboo dance in general. Of course it has another name too -Cheraw. But we have more than two bamboos. It starts with two and grows to many criss crossing, making chequers in which you must place your foot into. And picks up tempo with time.

When we were kids I remember practising it or trying. Braving all the wrong moves!!

[rusculture]

My girlfriend worked part-time as a traditional thai dancer during her Uni days to help support herself thru school, since her parents were too poor to afford her Uni fees.I often go watch dance when I visit her and there is a dance on. Really enjoyed watching her grateful movements then. Too bad no more opportunities since she graduated.

What surprises me what that somehow, all her "colleagues" (including herself) really not have much time to practise their dancing. Often the team leader just give them a briefing about half an hour before the dances started and a dancer leader (they take turns leading) will give verbal cues during the dance. Unless one knows the dance very well, it is very hard to spot the mistakes that were made during the dance. Sometimes they even have to play by ear and make up the dance along the way, though there is usuall a general pattern. Seems to me that most of them are natural dancers.

[Lenkapuppia]

Ciao SiamJai .I'm writing you from Rome IT.
I will like to find some Nang Talung music.
CaN you help me...?
Auguri ...Wildrice.

[Coollabioto]

l also saw this dance performed at a show in Penang and was dragged (encouraged) onto the stage together with my wife and we were invited to take part. It was good fun trying, but we got our ankles caught a few times even though they did it really slowly for us 555 555

[lh88gFzI]

Has anyone here ever gone to see the Phuket Fantasea Show? During the course of the show we seem many examples of the vast Cultural expericences that Thailand has to offer, along with music and a lesson in both the history and mythology of Thailand, as well as a brief but entertaining magic show. Half-way through the production the audience is introduced to some traditions native to the many minority tribes that also occupy the great land of smiles. Most of these traditions I am speaking of are Tribal Dances.

There is one particular dance that I am intrested in. It appears stage right (the audiences left). Two people come out with two long, large sticks or logs. Holding both the logs from opposite ends, they neal down and place their knees on the ground. Then by pounding the sticks on the ground twice and smaking the together once while off the ground they create percussion and a tempo. Next, back ground music starts up (not sure what insturment is used) and a Line of ten or so people appear. These people start dancing in a line while slowing moving in to the path of the two sticks. Once our dancers reach the two sticks they must manuver them selves through the sticks in percise timing or else the will get them selves caught in the middle when the two sticks come together. Slowly the tempo picks up and the sticks and the dancers move faster and faster. The faster the tempo the more impressive this gets. The dancers pull off ever more impressive tricks such as doing handstands and 'cart-wheels' through the path of the sticks; All without getting traped.

I am extermly impressed every time I see this done. I know the preformers had to dedicate a lot of time to learning this dance. If someone is off by just one fraction of a second the whole thing is ruined, but they pull it off with flying colors. It's an awesome sight to see.

I know I have seen this dance before, probably on the discovery channal or on a National Geographic Documentry. I would love to see this dance again. Does anyone have the slighest clue of what I am talking about? Has anyone ever seen this dance preformed? What is it called? Where did it come from? Where can I see it again?

[UBJ3kvP1]

I've seen this dance at the Phuket FantaSea performance too. What a memorable show! And a great description of it here.
However, the part I remember most is the Nang Yai/Nang Talung (shadow puppet theatre) performance. Do you remember that, Doug?

[neguoogleX]

Ciao SiamJai .I'm writing you from Rome IT.
I will like to find some Nang Talung music.
CaN you help me...?
Auguri ...Wildrice.

The post you are repyling to is nearly 4 years old. Siam Jai is no longer an active member of this forum.

[Gaiaakgyyyg]

This dance is called Lao Kratob Mai or Maa Jok Kok(ÅÒÇ¡ÃзºäÁé or ÁéÒ¨¡¤Í¡)
See some pictures from these sites
http://www.pearlvillage.co.th/data/data_meetings2.htm
http://mymemory05.freewebspace.com/040419_09.htm

[HowardtheDuck]

It is an awesome thing to see, I have not yet had the experience of it live but have seen it on several Thai TV channels, a couple concerts, and 1 movie. It is amazing the timing and choreography involved.