Dance

Among the traditional folk dance of each region of Thailand, southern dance is probably the fastest, with arms and legs moving swiftly in time to the fast rhythms of southern music.

Southern dance is more heavily influenced by Indian and Ceylonese 'Kandyan' styles than the other regions. The local dance style is called 'ram sat', usually accompanied by an ensemble of 'pi' (oboe), a pair of 'glong tuk' (drums), a 'mong' (gong), 'ching' (small cymbals), a pair of 'thap' or 'thon' (single-faced drums), and 'krap' (bamboo stick castanets). Patterns of movement draw on birds and animals for inspiration. Dancers who perform very well have often been taught the art since they were children. The dancers usually attach long, curved bronze fingernails to emphasize the graceful, sometimes staccato, movements.

The other popular dance in southern Thailand is called 'nora chatri', a dance-drama of the south, and the later 'lakorn chatri', which includes ritualistic dance performed at the beginning of the 'wai khru' ceremony to pay homage to the gods and teachers. The dancers' costumes are very elaborate and festooned with stringed beading.

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