ABSTRACT
Many people living in what is now Northern Thailand consider themselves to be Lanna people. Besides speaking a distinct dialect and practicing unique cultural traditions, they value our distinction from Central Thailand. They have maintained and revitalized their arts and culture in the present-day provinces of Chiangmai and Chiangrai, including the performing arts, as ways to preserve their unique identity. Until now, Lanna performing artists have had to adapt and develop their work ethic, teaching methods, and performance styles to bring their work to wider audiences while keeping its distinctiveness. This chapter weaves the thoughts, experiences, and aims of three top dancers and choreographers of Lanna dance traditions in the last decade or so. Considering both local developments tied to promoting local culture and the place of Lanna dance in the national and global dancescape, these artists, who often collaborate with one another, explore and consider the current situation and the future of dance in Thailand, the region, and the world.
