The performance of “Manohra” last week at the Thai
Cultural Centre was staged on two successive days for the benefit of the
United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Kuakarum College of
Nursing.
It has been billed as Thailand’s own “Swan Lake”
and, after some 14 years - it was last performed in 1987 - the ballet was
back, with a brilliant array of dancers, new choreography and simply
stunning costumes. Presented with a backdrop of spectacular scenery, the
great sound effects and music capped a truly remarkable and memorable
performance.
The
“Sad Charee” dance
More than 200 professionals and children joined the
Dance Centre’s School of Performing Arts version of “Manohra”,
which, according to Vararom Pachimsawat, managing director of the Dance
Centre, “Is a blend of Thai traditional arts and the western techniques
of producing performing arts.” This marriage, contends Vararom, allows
the creation of, “An adapted ballet with the elements of Thai culture in
both music and choreography such as ‘The Manohra Fire Dance’ and
‘Sad Chatree’ which are adapted solely from Southern Thai traditional
dance”.
The music itself, composed specifically for the ballet
by Jirapan Ansawananda and Sinnapa Sarasas is also somewhat eclectic,
“combining”, says Vararom, “Thai classical music with the ‘hard
rock’ electric sounds of the west.”
“Manohra” is one of the Chadok Nibaat, known
formally as “Pra Suton Manohra”, based on the love story of Pra Suton,
a prince of Panchala City, near Himmapan Forest and Manohra, a Kinnarree
(half human, half bird), a celestial creature living in Krailas Mountain.
A
close-up at the “Manohra” press conference, Pacific Club
After enduring the many travails, battles and tragedies
and overcoming the evil spells which inevitably befall mythological
beings, Pra Suton and Manohra are finally re-united, with a great
celebration of their happiness, at Krailas City.
According to a number of observers, the status of
ballet in Thailand has never been better, and yet the economic crisis has
taken its toll. Thanpuying Varaporn Pramoj, headmistress of the Varaporn
Kanchana Ballet School, one of the Kingdom’s oldest, said recently,
“The standard of teaching (ballet) has greatly improved, but we deplore
the lack of backing by the government.” In the wake of the Asian
financial crisis, Thanpuying Varaporn added, “Sponsors were hard to find
and the 150 or so professional ballet dancers who graduate each year have
a rough time...most live on short-term contracts.”
Perhaps the successful staging of “Manohra” can
help focus attention on ballet in Thailand.
H. E. Anand Panyarachun, UNICEF Ambassador for Thailand
observed, on behalf of UNICEF and the under-privileged Thai children, “I
would like to express my appreciation to the Dance Centre, the parents of
participating students, supporters and audiences for all contributions
made to this “Manohra” charity ballet, in order to raise funds for
UNICEF, to help the disadvantaged children and their families in
Thailand.”
Such great occasions as the staging of this beautiful
ballet, H.E. Anand noted, greatly help UNICEF “in continuing our
programmes in Thailand, aimed at the well-being of under-privileged
children and upgrading the quality of life, by enhancing the efficiency of
child education and capacity building.”
H.E.
Anan Panyarachun (Centre), the ballet group and sponsors, Pacific Club
press conference
All these factors will eventually help the children in
their consequent development “to their fullest potential enabling them
to become self-reliant adults, living a quality life,” H.E. Anand
concluded.
Dr. Benja Taoklam, director of the Kuakarun College of
Nursing, pointed out that, “This Charity Ballet Programme, donated to
the Kuakarun College of Nursing by the Dance Centre of the School of
Performing Arts, will enable us to improve our capability to serve the
needs of society.” It is imperative, Dr Taoklam continued, “that the
college continues to improve the teaching and learning process and now we
can offer a baccalaureate programme in Nursing Science. However, as with
other government agencies, the limitation of resources is always a barrier
to improving our services.” Such events as the “Manohra” ballet
greatly benefit us - and society in general, Dr. Taoklam added.
In a pre-show presentation, Gamini Abeysekera, UNICEF
representative for Thailand and UNICEF Youth Envoy, the charming
Kathaleeya MacIntosh, presented mementos of appreciation to the eight
sponsors, namely: Auto Tex Manufacturing, Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong
Kong Ladies’ Group, Kerry Glory Flour Mills, Kokiet Group, Oilily,
Proctor and Gamble Manufacturing, and The Peninsula Bangkok.
As an appendix to this report, Mr Abeysekera was at the
Pattaya Mail last week for discussions with the Mail
managing director, Peter Malhotra, on some possible UNICEF support for
programmes to benefit children and young people on the Eastern Seaboard,
particularly Pattaya and Jomtien. (See story, p.4, this issue).
The
vice president of the Rotary Club of Taksin-Pattaya, Preben Hansen, helped
organize the shipment of 1000 English language schoolbooks to the Rotary
Club of Chiang Mai West. The books came from the US Navy’s USS Carl
Vinson when it was here on R&R last month. The books are destined for
schools on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. The president of the
Rotary Club of Chiang Mai West Nipon Chakkrawut and Rotarian Preecha
Wongsakul accepted the books and will distribute them in the north.
Put
your dancing shoes on - the new term is about to begin.