Best traditional performing arts in South-east Asia

This Thai masked dance, originally performed by only men, involves singing, dancing, acting and acrobatics, all meticulously choreographed to the rousing sounds of a live orchestra. Using song and dialogue, performers act out scenes from the Ramakien, the Thai adaptation of the Sanskrit epic Ramayana. Currently, there are three versions of the Ramakien; the most popular one was created with input from Thailand’s King Rama I.

Watch it: Bangkok’s best Khon performances, backed by dramatic multimedia sets, can be enjoyed at the highly regarded Sala Chalermkrung Royal Theatre.

Singkil, which originates from the province of Lanao, gets its name from the bells worn on the ankles of a female dancer. She plays the lead role of a mythical princess who gets lost in a forest during a tempest. The quick-footed dance is set to the beats of two sets of bamboo poles that are clapped together; this is said to symbolise falling trees. Manipulating fans (apir), the dancer nimbly steps in and out of the space between poles. The performance ends when a male dancer, who plays a prince, enters the scene to save her.

Watch it: In Manila, Bayanihan –The Philippine National Folk Dance Company regularly stages singkil performances.

Behind a backlit cloth screen, Sbek Thom artists operate life-size leather puppets using two attached bamboo sticks, making them dance to traditional Khmer music performed by a live orchestra. This is accompanied by a narration of the Reamker, a poem that is the Cambodian adaptation of the Ramayana – about a prince who tries to rescue his wife from a demon. What makes Sbek Thom unique is that it started out not as an art form but rather, as a ritualistic activity dedicated to Khmer deities.

Watch it: On an outdoor stage in Phnom Penh, local talent from the Sovannaphum Theatre show off their skills in shadow play.

The challenges of living in rural Laos and unrequited love are common themes in Mor Lam, one of the country’s most traditional forms of music. When it gained popularity in the 1800s, Mor Lam had a slow, moody groove, with a vocalist performing against a musical backdrop created by a droning mouth organ called the khene (below). It has since evolved into a far livelier, uptempo musical treat that incorporates electronic instruments. Contemporary Mor Lam also involves rapid-fire singing that recalls rap.

Watch it: Catch a Mor Lam performance at one of Laos’ traditional festivals, including Boun Pi Mai (Lao New Year), which is usually celebrated in April.

With lyrics addressing topics such as love, war and ancient Vietnamese mythology, the ancient form of sung poetry, which dates back to the 11th century, has a slow and haunting sound. Ca Tru is typically performed by a trio, with a female singing over a sparse musical backdrop – the gentle strumming of the dan day, a three-stringed lute, and the down-tempo percussive rhythms of a trong chau drum. The instrumental sounds are kept subtle to put the focus on the stunningly varied vibrato vocals.

Watch it: Watch an intimate recital at Ca Tru Thang Long, a social club based in a restored house in Hanoi’s Old Quarter.

Among the many types of wayang (a theatrical performance employing puppets or people), Wayang Orang features dancers who don vibrantly coloured masks made from leather and wood, performing to the hypnotic sounds of traditional instruments such as the gamelan. They typically act out a plot that is largely based on the Ramayana. The art form, which originated in Java, was once performed in royal palaces. Over time, it was adopted by the common folk.

Watch it: In Jakarta, seventh-generation troupe Wayang Orang Bharata holds regular performances in Javanese, with Bahasa Indonesian subtitles.

A variety-style performance involving singing, dancing and comedy, Anyeint is said to have been performed solely for the royal court in the past, but was popularised during the time of British rule at the turn of the 20th century. Though it once included elements of political satire, Anyeint shows today are generally light-hearted, with great mirth created by the slapstick comedy routines of its male performers.

Watch it: The easiest way to catch an Anyeint performance is to attend one of Myanmar’s festivals, though Yangon National Theatre (Myo Ma Kyaung Rd) has been known to stage them too.

– TEXT BY RONAN O’CONNELL
PHOTOS: ALAMY (CLICK PHOTOS), GETTY IMAGES
This article was originally published by Singapore Press Holdings.