Classical Dance and Theatre in South-East Asia
This lavishly illustrated book provides an introduction to the rich traditions of South-East Asian dance, theatre, and puppet theatre. In South-East Asia, as elsewhere in Asia, it is often not possible to draw a clear line between dance and theatre. Most theatrical forms are performed by dance movements or with dance-like gestures to the accompaniment of music. South-East Asian theatre is also characterized by the interaction of puppet theatre and living theatre which have their roots firmly in history. The movements and gestures of dancer-actors, the stories and their specific language, the musical instruments, and the elaborate costumes and masks can be hundreds or even thousands of years old. The book focuses mainly on classical traditions which are still performed, and separate chapters are devoted to Burma, Thailand, Java, and Bali. Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos, where the classical traditions have partly disappeared or where performances incorporating these are now difficult for outsiders to see, are also referred to. Because South-East Asia has a significant Chinese population with its own theatrical traditions, Chinese theatre in the region and the Chinese-influenced theatre of Vietnam are discussed separately.
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Common terms and phrases
actors ancient Arjuna Asian audience Ayutthaya Bali Balinese Bangkok Barong bedhaya Buddhist Burma Burmese Cambodia Central Javanese characters Chinese opera classical dance Colour Plate costumes court dance dalang dance and theatre dance style dance-drama dancers demon developed drama dynasty East Javanese epic female forms of theatre gambuh gamelan genres hand gestures hero Hindu Indonesia Islam Jataka stories Javanese kebyar Khmer khon performance king kingdom kraton kraton of Yogyakarta lakhon nai lakhon nora Laos legong Mahabharata Malaysia Manora marionette theatre monkey movements nang talung nang yai National Theatre nineteenth century orchestra originally palace Photograph author Phra Ram plays plot popular Prince Panji puppet theatre Rama Ramakien Ramayana Rangda Ravana repertoire ritual role ruler Sang Thong scene sendratari shadow puppets shadow theatre South-East Asia stage Surakarta techniques temple Thai dance Thailand theatre and dance theatrical traditions topeng Topeng mask trance Vietnam Vietnamese village wayang kulit wayang wong Western