Perspectives on Khon

How do current day Thai dance students and practitioners feel about Khon?

Pimjan Thongdech

Experience of current dance student at Srinakharinwirot University

“Khon is an ancient art that is included in the learning curriculum. It is as if when the Thai people opened their eyes to see the world, they already knew Khon.

I started by studying a little in the classroom, then joined the school’s pantomime club at the age of 10. Rehearsing Khon has strict rules and is more difficult than general Thai performances. Practising Khon allows us to learn about legends, dance skills, and good body organisation according to ancient Thai values. Thus, parents often let their children attend Khon lessons from an early age.

Khon is a beautiful performing art. There is a traditional dance moves and story but it can also include some current content or jokes. Khon is more accessible now than in the past.” (Thongdech, 2024).

Pimjan Thongdech. Image: Pimjan Thongdech, 2024. (https://www.instagram.com/p/C1rM4A2JhZh/?img_index=1)

Pichet Klunchun

Current Thai dancer and choreographer on renewing Khon based in Singapore

“Traditional performing arts do not communicate with the audience(s), do not offer professional opportunities and do not sell tickets. So no one thinks about its quality and meaning.”

Klunchun perceived that the culture that was originally established for kings cannot be relevant during modern times by preserving it in its original state. Where it was originally developed as rituals for Buddhism, the people in the past did not view Khon for its dance entertainment. Instead, it was to meet the gods which were role-played by the dancers.

Example of his work: Black & White

It was presented at Esplanade’s da:ns festival in 2011. Klunchun’s Khon dancers did not perform as characters from the Ramakien but instead, as themselves. Having to portray the thoughts and emotions of the main characters such as Tosakanth or Hanuman limits the dancers’ personal expression.

While the dance movements roughly remained the same, the meaning and nuances behind the movements changed entirely. (Klunchun, 2020)

Pichet Klunchun. Image: Esplanade Offstage. (https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/re-moving-with-pichet-klunchun)