Khon with a twist

Published on July 9, 2007

Aperformance of khon and Thai classical dance being staged later this month should make for interesting viewing. It's not the show that's too unusual, it's the performers that are unique. All were born or raised in Britain and have been trained in traditional Thai arts in London.

This show is the culmination of many years of dedicated instruction at the Thai Dance Academy, which was founded in 1982. The driving force behind the academy is Poranee Johnston, a graduate of the Dramatic Arts College in Bangkok.

The school was initially set up to teach Thai children traditional dancing, with classes held every weekend at the Buddhapradeep Temple in Wimbledon. It was through these classes that the children were exposed to the finer points of Thai culture that they might otherwise have had little chance of experiencing in British society. The youngsters are taught to wai properly, to bow when walking past elders and to speak the language properly, using the correct tones.

For many of the students, it was during these lessons that they could talk extensively and exclusively in Thai.

Perhaps, it is this drumming-in of culture that has made these students seem even more Thai than the ones who go to study there.

The academy is a true labour of love, with none of the instructors receiving salaries and only younger and new students paying a nominal fee to join. As the numbers and proficiency increased, the academy has been able to put on shows, with the objective of increasing awareness, understanding and appreciation of Thai classical dance. This has allowed the older and more experienced students who take part in these shows, to study for free, with these sessions regarded as rehearsals.

The high standard of the shows means that the academy is always in demand and it currently gives some 40 performances each year. To attract audiences, only a small fee is charged for the shows and most of the costs for the costumes are borne by a few loyal supporters and by Poranee herself.

The troupe's performance skills first came to the fore in 2001 when "Manora" was staged at London's Bloomsbury Theatre.

The five shows were enthusiastically received and the academy was invited by the then National Cultural Commission, now the Thai Ministry of Culture, to perform in Bangkok in 2002. This marked the troupe's first trip to Thailand and also the first ever visit to their motherland by many of the youngsters.

The "Ramakien" khon performance is being reprised as the centrepiece of the Academy's show being staged at Silpakorn University's small auditorium on July 25.