DANCE AND THEATRE FORMS OF EAST AND SOUTH ASIAN
COUNTRIES
CHINA
FOLK ART FORMS-
● Yangge - a dance that is common in Northern China.
● Lantern Dance - a dance found in Southern China.
● Jingxi dance opera( and other forms of Chinese opera)
● Errenzhuan- only 2 performers, 1 male and 1 female
● Baishou Dance - a dance of the Tujia people
● Mongolian Bowl Dance - a dance where female dancers balance several bowls on their
heads while dancing.
● Long Drum Dance - a dance of the Yao people which inspired the orchestral composition
Dance of the Yao People.
● Sanam - an Uyghur dance
● Lhamo - a Tibetan opera with dancing and singing
RITUALISTIC-
● Yi Dance- literally "row dance", performed with rows of dancers holding pheasant
feathers and red flutes in a square formation
● Nuo Dances- a dance with masks which may be performed in Nuo opera or as rituals
during festivals to drive away evil spirits.
● Cham dance - a Tibetan Buddhist dance
THEATRE-
There are over a hundred regional branches of traditional Chinese opera today.
● Peking Opera- In the 20th century the Peking opera emerged in popularity and has come
to known as the "national theatre" of China
Peking opera, or Beijing opera or Jingju, is the most dominant form of Chinese opera which
combines music, vocal performance, mime, dance and acrobatics. Peking opera features four
main role types, sheng (gentlemen), dan (women), jing (rough men), and chou (clowns)
● Other genres like Yue opera, Cantonese opera, kunqu, qinqiang, Huangmei opera, pingju,
and Sichuan opera
● Traditional Chinese opera or Xiqu, is a form of musical theatre in China with roots going
back to the early periods in China
● Shadow puppetry first emerged as a recognized form of theatre in China
● Xiangsheng is a style of traditional Chinese comedic performance in the form of a
monologue or dialogue. Chinese performers usually clap with the audience at the end of a
performance; the return applause is a sign of appreciation to the audience.
JAPAN
Traditional Japanese theatre includes
● Kabuki
● Noh
● Kyogen (comic accompaniment of Noh)
● Bunraku(puppet theatre)
Noh:
● Noh- Developed by Kan'ami and his son Zeami,
● Noh and nōgaku are sometimes used interchangeably, nōgaku encompasses both Noh and
kyōgen.
● Noh is performed on a square stage with a roof that is supported at its four corners by
pillars. All sides of the stage are open except for the back side which consists of a wall
with a painted image of a pine tree. A bridge runs at an oblique angle off the stage for
performers to enter the stage.
● Roles- All performers in noh are male.
1. Shite - the leading character. Depending on the play, the shite may act as a holy
old man, a deity, a demon, a spirit or a living man. His movements express
various moods.
2. Waki - the supporting actor. The waki plays roles such as a priest, monk or
samurai. In contrast to the shite, the waki always portrays living people.
3. Hayashi - the musicians. Four musicians provide accompaniment for the
performance with a flute (fue), shoulder drum (kotsuzumi), hip drum (otsuzumi)
and stick drum (taiko).
4. Jiutai - the chorus. The chorus sits to the left of the stage and assists the shite in
the narration of the story.
5. Koken - stage attendants. Dressed in black, the stage attendants are not part of the
play but assist the performers in various ways, such as handing them props.
● Masks- One key element of noh are the masks which the shite wears. They tell the
audience what kind of character is being portrayed. Frequently used masks represent
demons and spirits, as well as women and men of various ages.
Kyogen:
● The earliest existing Kyogen scripts date from the 15th century.
● Kyogen, is Noh’s comic partner, served as a link between the theological themes of the
noh play with the pedestrian world by use of theatrical farce and slapstick.
● Noh and kyogen plays were performed together in series of nine, alternating between the
two styles
● kyogen plays acting as interludes between the lengthy Noh.
● Both men and women were allowed to perform Kyogen until 1430.
Kabuki:
● Kabuki is a classical Japanese dance-drama. Kabuki theatre is known for the stylization
of its drama, the often-glamorous costumes worn by performer
● Elaborate kumadori make-up worn by some of its performers.
● UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
● present day it is performed exclusively by men. Several male kabuki actors are therefore
specialists in playing female roles (onnagata)
● Kanji- a performer in Kabuki, mean sing, dance, and skill. Kabuki is therefore sometimes
translated as "the art of singing and dancing".
● ateji characters which do not reflect actual etymology. The kanji of 'skill' generally refers
to a performer in kabuki theatre.
● The expression "kabukimono"referred originally to those who were bizarrely dressed.
● STAGE- Kabuki stage features a projection called a hanamichi a walkway which
extends into the audience and via which dramatic entrances and exits are made.
● Okuni also performed on a hanamichi stage with her entourage.
● Important elements of kabuki include the mie , in which the actor holds a picturesque
pose to establish his character, At this point his house name (yagō) is sometimes heard in
loud shout (kakegoe) from an expert audience member
● MAKEUP- Keshō, kabuki makeup
○ Rice powder is used to create the white oshiroi base
○ kumadori enhances or exaggerates facial lines to produce dramatic animal or
supernatural masks. The color of the kumadori is an expression of the character's
nature
Bunraku:
● Bunraku began in the 16th century- puppet theatre
● The puppeteers controlling the legs and hands of the puppets are dressed entirely in
black, while the head puppeteer in contrast wears a colorful costume.
● Music and chanting is a popular convention of bunraku, and the shamisen player is
usually considered to be the leader of the production. The shamisen player also has the
shortest hair.
Bugaku:
● Bugaku-slow, precise and regal movements.
● Traditional Buddhist costumes
● Include masks.
● The music and dance pattern is often repeated several times.
● It is performed on a square platform, usually 6 yards by 6 yards.
Other forms in Japan:
● Noh mai is a dance that is done to music that is made by flutes and small hand drums. At
some points they dance to vocal and percussion music, these points are called kuse or
kiri.
1. Chu no mai- A type that is neither slow nor fast is called chu no mai. A female
usually performs this type of dance.
2. Jo no mai- A slower type of dance is the jo no mai. A female does this dance as
well and can dress up as either a ghost of a noble woman, a spirit or deity.
3. Otoko Mai- A male’s dance is otoko mai. The performer does not wear a mask in
this dance and is portraying the character as being heroic.
4. Kami mai- Another male dance is kami mai, where the dancer acts as though he is
a deity. This is a very fast dance.
5. Kagura- The female version of Kami mai would be kagura and can be performed
in various ways.
6. Gaku- is a dance that is imitates music played by the imperial court and is usually
done by the main character.
● Sparrow dance- suzume odori- folk
● Nihon buyō- for entertainment on stage
● Bon odori-folk dance
● Jinta mai (or kamigata mai) is a refined dance form
● Gigaku- Buddhist dance
KOREA
Korean traditional dance divided into three groups:
1. jakbeop (Buddhist ceremonial dance)
2. jeongjae (court dance)
3. folk dance.
● P’ansori, one of the more popular forms of traditional Korean theater, is an epic song
performance
● Chiso and Kajiso- Court music and dance
● Kiak- Buddhist masked dance play
● Kkoktukaksi- puppet theatre
● Talchum- is a mask dance
● geurimja-geuk is a shadow drama
● inhyeong-geuk is a puppet show
● Sandae- masked dance theatre like Noh in Japan
● eungmu is a Korean traditional dance originally danced by monks.
● Hallyangmu is a Korean folk dance entertainment for adults only
● Cheoyongmu- South Korean traditional dance, masked
● Buchaaechum- dancers do use a beautiful fan with a picture ornament of peonies
● Korean public theatre-Talchum. Talchum literally means mask-dance.
● There was no plot-driven drama, and all the performative presentations, including dance,
shaman ritual, and circus were called Nolum or Yeonhee , which means 'playing'.
SOUTH ASIAN- Bangladesh, Pakistan, Srilanka
BANGLADESH
● Religious dances outnumber other forms.
● Dances relating to kirtan, penance, baul rites, gambhira, jari and fakir rites are associated
with different religious beliefs and rituals.
● Dhali and lathi- are related to the martial arts
● chhokra, ghatu, and khemta dances provide entertainment.
● Ghatu
● Leto
● Jari
● Kali
● Khemta
PAKISTAN
● Pakistan’s dances are vibrant and explosive.
● Bhangra and khattak are the most popular.
● Khattak- is a dance of the tribal Pashtuns, who traditionally inhabit the rugged hills of
the northwest. Khattak is presented to visiting dignitaries
● Sammi- Important dances by women
● Kikli- performed by girls and young women in groups of two
● giddha-danced in a circle, the participants keeping the rhythm by clapping their hands
● luddi-women click their fingers and clap their hands
● Parsi theatre
SRI LANKA
There are three main styles of Sri Lankan classical dance
1. Kandyan dances- Classical dance of Sri Lanka, of the Hill Country, known as Uda Rata
Natum. It features a highly developed system of "tala" (rhythm), provided by cymbals called
"thalampataa". There are five distinct types:
i. Ves
ii. Naiyandi
iii. Uddekki
iv. Pantheru
v. vannams.
2. Pahatha Rata Natum/ Ruhunu- The low country dances of the southern plains, known as -
his type of dance is performed to please the evil spirits and is commonly known as the 'Devil
Dance', wear Mask
3. Sabaragamuwa dances, or Sabaragamuwa Natum.- primary purpose to praise and worship
the God of Saman.
● Instruments used- Drum used in Kandyan dancing-Geta Bera
● Drum in Ruhunu-"Yak Bera",
● Drum in Sabaragamu-"Davula"
FOLK DANCES-
● Kolam- Kolam is a type of Performing Art unique to the Country .
● Leekeli (stick dance)
● kalagedi (pot dance)
● raban (hand drum)
● polkatu (coconut)
SOUTH EAST ASIAN
INDONESIA
● Pendet, Bali - The Temple Dance-performed by women particularly as a prologue
performance to any other dance form.
● Saman Dance, Aceh - ‘A Masterpiece’- Unesco intangible
● Kipas Pakerena, Gowa - The Dance with Fans
● Bedhaya, Central Java & Yogyakarta - The Celebration of Love
● Tari Piring, Minangkabau - Precision with Plates
● Reog, Ponorogo, East Java - The Dance of Black Magic and More
● Merak, West Java - Poise of the Peacocks
● Cakalele, Ternate - The War Dance
● Roro Anteng and Joko Seger Dance, Tengger - A Tribute to the Legends
● FOLK- Ronggeng and Sundanese Jaipongan , Poco-poco dance from Minahasa North
Sulawesi, and Sajojo dance from Papua.
● Dance traditions in Indonesia; such as Balinese, Javanese, Sundanese, Minangkabau,
Palembang, Malay, Aceh and many other dances traditions are age old traditions
Bali Sunda Palembang
● Baris ● Bajidor Kahot ● Gending
● Barong ● Dewi Sriwijaya
● Cendrawasih ● Jaipongan ● Kebagh
● Condong ● Keurseus ● Pagar
● Gambuh ● Kupu-kupu pengantin
● Janger ● Merak ● Tanggai
● Joged ● Ratu Graeni ● Mejeng
● Kebyar duduk ● Reog Sunda Basuko
● Kecak ● Sisingaan ● Rodat
● Legong Cempako
Betawi
● Mageret Pandan ● Pagar
● Manuk Rawa Pengantin
● Cokek
● Oleg
● Lenggang Melayu
● Panyembrama
Betawi
● Pendet
● Ondel-ondel ● Bangsawa
● Sanghyang
● Ronggeng n
● Sekar Jepun
● Topeng Betawi ● Joget
● Topeng
● Yapong Melayu
Java ● Persembah
Aceh
an
● Sekapur
● Ratoh Duek
● Bedhaya Sirih
● Ratoh Jaroe
● Gambyong ● Tandak
● Saman
● Gandrung ● Zapin
● Seudati
● Golek ● Zapin Api
● Likok Pulo
● Kuda lumping
● Rapai Geleng Lampung
● Wayang wong
● Ranub lam Puan
● Bambangan cakil ● Melinting
● Wayang gedog Batak
● Topeng Malang Banjar
● Remo ● Tortor
● Reog Ponorogo ● Sigale-gale ● Baksa
● Ronggeng kembang
Minang
● Serimpi Dayak
● Alang Babega
● Indang ● Gantar
● Lilin
● Hudoq
● Pasambahan
● Kancet
● Payung
Papatai
● Piring
● Kancet
● Randai
Ledo
● Rantak
● Kancet
Lasan
● Serumpai
● Kuyang
Minahasa
● Kabasaran
● Maengket
● Poco-poco
Toraja
● Ma'badong
Bugis Makassar
● Gandrang
Bulo
● Paduppa
● Pajoge
● Pakarena
● Paraga
● Pepe-Pepe
ka ri
Makka
Maluku and Papua
● Cakalele
● Sajojo
THAILAND
Thai classical dance drama include
● khon-troupes of non-speaking dancers, episode from Ramkein
● lakhon-female who play both male and female roles and perform as a group, Percussion
instruments and Piphat
● Fon Thai
1. Fon lep (fingernail dance): A northern Thai dance style.- wears six inch
long brass fingernails.
2. Fon tian (candle dance): A performance consists of eight dancers, each
carrying candles.
3. Fon ngiew (scarf dance): A dance performed at a happy event.
FOLK DANCES
● Ramwong is a type of partner dance in a circle.
● Ram Muay is the ritualized dance that takes place before Southeast Asian kickboxing
matches such as muay Thai.
● Wai Khru ram muay is a ritualized form of dance meant to pay respect to or homage to
the khru or teacher.
VIETNAM
● Fan dance - vũ phiến
● Lantern dance -lục cúng hoa đăng
● Lotus dance - múa sen, múa bài bông
● Flag dance
● Platter dance - múa mâm
● Candle dance
● Incense dance
● Hat dance - múa nón
● Scarf dance
● Lion dance -múa lân
● Ribbon dance
THEATRE-
● Hát Tuong or "hát boi"-Often called 'classical Vietnamese opera'
● Cai luong-A more popular form of theatre, contemporary theme
● Múa roi nuoc (Water Puppetry)