Thai dancers, musicians to take stage at MAC

A glimpse of Thai culture will be seen in Mineral Area College’s Fine Arts Theatre, as a Thai Music and Dance Ensemble takes the stage as part of a national educational tour, sponsored by University of Missouri-St. Louis, Mineral Area College, Mineral Area College Foundation and Mineral Area Council on the Arts.

The dancers are from Phranakhon Rajabhat University, in Bangkok, Thailand. The evening of dance begins at 7 p.m. (with an optional 6 p.m. educational pre-show), Wednesday, Oct. 28, in the MAC Fine Arts Theatre. Admission is free.

The 6 p.m. educational pre-show will offer a PowerPoint presentation about the country, the university, and information about the instruments, dance, and culture. After a brief intermission, the 7 p.m. performance will begin.

At 7 p.m., the dancers will perform for two hours in shimmering, colorful costumes, providing an authentic demonstration of Thai dancing and music. From classical music to chatri, the prototype for all Thai dance, the performance will provide the history, folklore and geography of Thailand. There will be an intermission at 8 p.m.

Thai music will include the Khluen Krathopfang Overture, composed by King Rama VII in 1921, Introduction for Thai Classical Music Instruments, and other various Thai classical songs that express different feelings and emotions.

Thai dance will include the Coconut Dance, Victory Drum Dance, The Nora, and Kris Da Phini Harn, the lyrics of which means the enrichment of the Thai kingdom, and that all citizens live in peace and happiness.

For more information about the performance, please contact MACOA Director Betty Schaper, (573) 518-2125.