Indian treat for Thais
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At the Bangkok music and dance festival this year, the Kalakshetra troupe from India will perform.
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Bangkok's spectacular International Festival of Dance and Music will be on again in the Thai capital (September 7 to October 4) with yet another rich profusion of classical and modern forms.
It is organised by the International Cultural Promotions, an affiliate of Indian magnate Kukoo Oberoi's Media Transasia publishing house.
In a festival normally dominated by Western performances, this year is special because of the presence of two Asian groups, the Kalakshetra troupe from India and the Millenium Modern Dance Co. from Korea. "We are proud to have them with us," says Egasith Chotpakditrakul, president of the company, "the last time we had an Indian group was for our inaugural festival seven years ago, the Bharatiya Kala Kendra."
Kalakshetra troupe
The Kalakshetra troupe will perform a two-hour version of "Ramayana" which will definitely interest the Thais. The Northern Ballet Theatre group from the U.K. will stage a unique version of "Peter Pan." Strong movement-based storytelling is their style. The festival opens with an opera, which is rapidly becoming popular in the city.
Jazz
The second-half of the programme consists of jazz by the Francois Kindemann Sextet from Switzerland, with their grand, traditional rhythms, and the modern Tigramuna Latino jazz group from Australia, with their lively Afro-Latin repertoire.
Two unique performances this year will be a choral concert by Denmark's famed Copenhagen Royal Chapel Choir, who have performed all over Europe. They will sing and read out, "The Nightingale" by Hans Anderson, to celebrate 200 years of the legendary writer's birth.
The other performance is by Piano Seven from Switzerland. The Festival deserves credit for maintaining its high-level shows. "But this is our commitment to Bangkok," says Egasith.
LEKHA J. SHANKAR
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