ABSTRACT
To highlight some of the breadth and depth of artists involved in Thai dance worlds, we arranged to interview a wide variety of performers, of various ages, backgrounds, and experiences. We include 14 artists below, who ranged from those whose focus is on classical forms like khon or lakhon, to those trained in traditional forms like Nora, Likay, and lakhon chatri, as well as forms such as ballet and hip-hop. The interviews, largely conducted by Ms. Kajeemas Subhabundhu, sought to find out several things from the artists. We also benefitted greatly from our interviews with the National Artist Supachai Chandsuwan, and Julachart Arunyanark, and some of their students in the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute for their expertise in classical Thai dance. The focal questions guiding the interviews for each artist were these:
How are you connected to dance? How did you become involved in dance? Why are you interested in dance?
What is the type(s) of dance you learned, practiced, and performed? Include specific moments from your life that link you to the dance you learned, practiced, performed.
What is the role of dance in your life? What are two to three key moments of dance in your life so far that are most important?
How do you see the role of dance in your life? Now and in the next five years? How will it be important to you?
How do you see the place of the dance forms or traditions you know in Thailand now and in the next five to ten years? What about the place of dance in Thailand more generally?
Why is dance important to Thailand and for the world?
Each artist below is marked by a number (1–14)