Dancers rehearse Khon performances in tribute to late King

Dancers rehearse Khon performances in tribute to late King

Surapan Laotharanarit

BANGKOK, 29 September 2017 (NNT) – The Fine Arts Department has arranged another round of rehearsal for traditional Khon mask dances, which are to be staged in Sanam Luang during the royal cremation ceremony in honor of His Majesty the late King Rama IX. 

At the National Theater, rehearsals of special Khon performances were conducted under the supervision of Mr Prasat Thongaram, a Thai classical dance master from the Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture. The performances consisted of two excerpts from the Ramayana epic, called “Rama Crosses the Ocean” and “The Battle”, and another newly-written piece under the title “Remembering the Royal Benevolence”. They are scheduled to be put on show before the Royal Merit-Making Pavilion on October 26. 

A total of 89 Khon dancers as well as 360 musicians, singers and narrators are involved in the shows. Most of them are staffers from the Office of Performing Arts and students from 12 schools of performing arts nationwide. 

The dance titled “The Battle” was favored by His Majesty the late King and was often performed at his command when receiving his guests. On some occasions, the late King would also give useful critiques on the show. 

Meanwhile, the play “Remembering the Royal Benevolence” was newly composed by Mr Kasem Thongaram, Mr Prasat’s brother who is a renowned expert at the College of Dramatic Arts. 

 

-- nnt 2017-09-30