Traditional Dances Of Thailand

The traditional Thai Dance dates back to ancient Siamese times. There are two major forms of Thai dance. The first and most widely used is the Classic Thai dance, which dates back to earlier kingdoms. This dance form comes mainly from the Kingdom of Siam. Spoken theater had not yet became one of the major art forms at this time. It was through dance that classical history and events were shared. The hands serve such an important part in Classical Thai dancing. Can you bend your hands back that far? 

The other major type of Thai dance is the dance of the common people, the folk dances that share the life and struggles of daily living. Happy events, sad times, and every type of celebration was a reason to dance. Folk Dances, unlike the classical dances, was usually done in circle.  While the costumes were beautiful, they were usually more simple. The movements were graceful, but lacked the precision of the hand movements seen in the classical dances. 

Most of the dances seen today are of the Classical Thai Dance with it's precision hand movements and amazing costumes. 

In this second photo we see a close up of a beautiful young woman who is one of the classical dancers. This is the major classical art form shared today in Thailand, though Classical dancing can also be divided again into three major art forms. Throughout Thailand you will find many opportunities to see the many forms of Classical Dancing. As you travel through the country, remember to experience this extraordinary adventure in the world of Thai Dancing.