Contentious dance to be performed in Thailand

[geovalin]

Niem Chheng

Cambodian performers are set to travel to northern Thailand to perform the lakorn khol – an art form that sparked controversy on social media last month when it came to light that Thailand was seeking UNESCO recognition for its version of the masked dance, which many Cambodians claimed belongs to Khmer culture.

Prime Minister Hun Sen made the announcement via his Facebook page on Saturday, saying that in addition to Cambodia’s, versions of the dance will be performed by four other countries – Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and South Korea – at an ASEAN-backed cultural festival.

The lakorn khol is based on an adaptation of the Hindu epic the Ramayana, as is the Thai royal khon. Despite the online criticism that cropped up over the news that Thailand would be seeking recongnition for the khon – “This dance [belongs] to Cambodia, not Thailand”, as one Facebook user bluntly put it – Ministry of Culture spokesman Thai Norak Satya insisted there would be no controversy at the performances later this week.

read more http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/contentious-dance-be-performed-thailand

[humqdpf]

Why not rejoice in the fact that certain aspects of the respective cultures are similar? Of course, how stupid of me, that would make the Thais the same as the Cambodians and no Thai could accept that!

[Emster23]

"The lakorn khol is based on an adaptation of the Hindu epic the Ramayana,"

Origin is INDIA! Jeez some can be such morons.

Imagine if USA had sued UK over having rock and roll bans, as rock is of US origin.

Culture doesn't belong to any one group, it belongs to everyone.

[Redline]

I'm sure everyone can have their own version, but it's obvious it originated in India. Silly

[Rykbanlor]

Like the outcry when the Thais heard about Singapore celebrating Songkran.

[The Deerhunter]

Like the outcry when the Thais heard about Singapore celebrating Songkran.

Everywhere in the world there are Thai people, Songkran is celebrated. Stop press! News Flash! Chinese New Year is celebrated in........Thailand!!!!! The Chinese should complain immediately!!!

Edited July 4, 2016 by The Deerhunter

[tifino]

Well they could have claimed the dance - if the Japs didn't lose the war and the Isaan lands, given to thais as a reward for Vichy, didn't get taken back from them by the Brits...

... it's the same as stealing another country's art in wartime

[tuanku]

The real Thai cultural dance is seen every day in go-go bars in Pattaya and elsewhere. Most of the performers are, indeed, from Isaan.

[sanukjim]

Why not rejoice in the fact that certain aspects of the respective cultures are similar? Of course, how stupid of me, that would make the Thais the same as the Cambodians and no Thai could accept that!

Thais will not except the facts that most of their culture comes from Cambodia,India,Myanmar,and China.. Just like their claim of having never been taken over and controlled by any other country. Ha