Date
7 – 9 Oct, Fri – Sun

Time
Fri – Sun: 6.15pm
Duration: 30mins each

Venue
Esplanade Concourse

For the Malays, dance is associated with joyous occasions. Enjoy lively performances by Sriwana’s young talents, who will also demonstrate the movements of Zapin, Inang, Ronggeng, Masri and Asli. You will get the chance to learn the steps and play musical instruments like the rebana and kompang, typically used in the dances.

Date
7 – 9 Oct, Fri – Sun

Time
Fri- Sun: 7.15pm & 8.30pm
Duration: 30mins each

Venue
Esplanade Concourse

Rarely seen outside the country, Myanmarese traditional palace dances such as Nann Ma Haw are usually performed by young ladies of court for the queen and princesses, and Htaung Yaung Nay, which pays tribute to the good governance of the king. The duet dance depicts the undying love of couple on a difficult journey through jungle terrain while the prayer dance is typically staged to call upon the spirits to bless a special occasion.

Date
7 – 9 Oct, Fri – Sun

Time
Fri & Sun: 8pm & 9.15 pm
Sat only: 6.45pm & 8pm & 9.15pm
Duration: 30 mins each

Venue
Esplanade Outdoor Theatre

Featured over the first weekend is the Javanese classical dance-theatre form of Wayang Wong. The performances are choreographed and led by Wayang Wong master, Wahyu Santoso Prabowo, who also teaches at the Insititut Seni Indonesia. The excerpt presented is the kidnapping of Rama’s wife, Sinta (Sita), by the demon king, Rawana (Ravana). A dramatic endeavour to rescue Sinta led to the burning of the city of Lanka by the monkey god, Hanoman (Hanuman). An additional show on Saturday is an excerpt that depicts how Rama selected Hanoman to be the ambassador in his war efforts against Rawana.

Date
10 – 11 Oct, Mon – Tue

Time
Mon – Tue: 7.15pm & 8.15pm
Duration: 30mins each

Venue
Esplanade Concourse

Watch the different dances of this classical Javanese dance-theatre form and see how different movements are associated with each character type in the stories. Then try your hand at the movements yourself.

Date
12 – 13 Oct, Wed – Thu

Time
Wed – Thu: 7.15pm & 8.15pm
Duration: 30mins each

Venue
Esplanade Concourse

Dancers from the company of the festival’s resident artist, Pichet Klunchun, will present a dance-demonstration of the classical Thai dance, Khon. Dancers will show you how the various character types from the epic Ramakien are depicted in this dance form.

Date
14 – 16 Oct, Fri – Sun

Time
Fri & Sun: 8pm & 9.15 pm
Sat only: 6.45pm & 8pm & 9.15pm
Duration: 30mins each

Venue
Esplanade Outdoor Theatre

Over the second weekend, the Thai classical dance, Khon, takes the stage with the Ramakien, the Thai version of the Ramayana. The first performance, from the prologue of the Ramakien, tells the story of Phra Ram (Rama) and Todsakan (Ravana) in their previous lives when, as Phra Narai and Nontuk respectively, they sealed their fates as a result of a bitter fight. The second performance is about the kidnapping of Nang Sida (Sita) by Todsakan when Phra Ram was tricked into a hunt for a golden deer. An additional show on Saturday comprises two duets. One depicts Hanuman’s pursuit of Supanna Matcha, the mermaid daughter of Todsakan, to be his wife. The other is based on a legend about the origins of lightning and thunder.

Synopsis of Performances

Phra Narai defeats Nontuk
This story is from the prologue of the Ramakien. It is the story about the previous lives of Phra Ram (Rama, in the Ramayana) and Todsakan (Ravana), when they took different forms in the heavenly realm.

Nontuk was a loyal gatekeeper in the court of the heavenly king, Phra Isuan. His duty was to clean the feet of the angels before they met Phra Isuan. But he was often abused by the angels who slapped his head and pulled his hair. Nontuk lived in agony and grew angry. Then he received a magical power from Phra Isuan, in the form of a jewelled finger that caused death to whoever it was pointed at. Using this power, Nontuk quenched his thirst for revenge by ruthlessly slaying the angels. When these evil deeds were discovered, Phra Narai, at the request of Phra Isuan, tricked Nontuk into pointing the finger at himself, thus causing his own death. Before dying, Nontuk vowed vengeance on Phra Narai and claimed that the fight was not fair because Phra Narai was more powerful. Phra Narai then gave his word that in the next life he would defeat Nontuk again in a less privileged form. Reborn on earth, Nontuk took the form of the 10-faced and 20-armed Todsakan, the demon king of Longka, while Phra Narai reincarnated in human form as Phra Ram, destined to fight the powerful demon king.

Phra Ram hunts golden deer, kidnapping of Nang Sida
This famous episode was the cause of the epic battle between Phra Ram and Todsakan.

Todsakan, the great demon king of Longka, heard of Nang Sida’s (Sita) beauty. When he finally saw her, he became obsessed with her. He decided to abduct her and make her his consort in Longka. He then ordered his cousin to be transformed into a golden deer to lure Phra Ram and younger brother Phra Lak (Lakshmana) away, and clear the way for Nang Sida’s abduction. Nang Sida was attracted to the deer and asked Phra Ram and Phra Lak to find and catch the deer for her. When she was alone, Todsakan disguised himself as a hermit to get close to her, eventually abducting her. Thus began Phra Ram’s mission to rescue Nang Sida, which led to the great battle between Phra Ram and Todsakan.

Catching the lady: Hide and seek between Supanna Matcha and Hanuman
Phra Ram’s army was trying build a causeway to cross the river to Longka. Todsakan ordered his daughter, Supanna Matcha, who was half human-half fish, to destroy the causeway. When Hanuman found out about the plan, he tried to catch Supanna Matcha. However, in the pursuit, he became enamoured by her. When he finally caught her, he also won the heart of Supanna Matcha, who then agreed to be his wife.

Mekkala and Ramasoon: The legend of lightning and thunder

Manee-Mekkala was an angel who owned a beautiful crystal ball, which was greatly desired by Ramasoon, a demon. When he asked her for the ball, she refused to give it away. Ramasoon became furious and tried to take it from her. In order to escape, Manee-Mekkala threw her ball to create a sparkling light to blind Ramasoon. Thus lightning was born. In trying to catch Manee-Mekkala, the angry Ramasoon threw his axe towards her to stop her. And this became the sound of thunder.

Date
14 – 16 Oct, Fri – Sun

Time
Fri & Sun: 7.15pm & 8.30pm
Sat only: 6.15pm & 7.15pm & 8.30pm

Venue
Esplanade Concourse

The diversity of the Philippines is reflected in the folk dances presented here. Highlights include the Ragragsakan, an all female festive dance from the mountainous Kalinga people; the Malalatik, performed by men displaying fast rhythmic moves with coconut shells; and the Binoyugan, a dance that shows off the balancing skills of the dancers with pots atop their heads, among many others.

Filipino Folk Dances

Ragragsakan
This is an all-female festive dance from the Kalinga, a mountain tribe of the Northern Philippines. The word “ragragsakan” means “merriment”, and is borrowed from the Ilocano language. Originally, the main occasions for performing the Ragragsakan were to commemorate the end of tribal wars, either for the homecoming of successful head-takers or the culmination of a peace-pact between warring tribes. This dance imitates the walk of the industrious Kalinga women as they climb the rice terraces, carrying water pots on their heads and wearing colourful blankets.

Maglalatik
The Maglalatik is performed by male dancers who have coconut shell halves secured onto their hands and on their vests. In time to a fast drumbeat, the dancers hit one coconut shell with the other, not just the ones on themselves but sometimes those worn by another dancer. The skill of the dancer is on display and, in some Filipino martial arts circles, it has been noted that the Maglalatik “consists of a trapping and boxing method hidden in a dance”. The name of the dance comes from the Filipino word “latik”, which means “fried coconut milk curd”, a coconut product that is used in Filipino cooking, particularly in snacks.

La Jota Gumaqueña
La Jota Gumaqueña originated in the town of Gumaca in Tayabas province (now known as Quezon). It was introduced by a well-known local musician at the time, Herminigildo Omana. It became popular among well-heeled families and was handed down from generation to generation. The jota broadly refers to Spanish-influenced dances that are lively and accompanied by the use of bamboo castanets.

Binoyugan
A dance from the Ilocano region in the province of Pangasinan, Northern Philippines, the Binoyugan features women balancing on their heads a banga or clay pot which was typically used to fetch water from the river or well, or to cook rice. The dance culminates with the women lying stomach down, rolling from side to side, while skillfully balancing the pot.

Paso Doble
This is a Spanish-influenced folk dance that is performed to stirring marching music typically played at bullfights and fiestas. Though Paso Doble means “two-step”, it is danced with a single step to a beat. It draws movements from the art of bullfighting, with the women as the cape and the men as the toreador or bullfighter.

Salawahan
This is a courtship dance from the countryside in the province of Tarlac. It features the playful movements of two girls using their hats in trying to win the heart of the “two-timer” boy. Each of the girls have their share of the time and affection of the boy who ends up still undecided.