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Myanmar
Dance
Burmese
Dance
Burma music
Myanmar
Entertainment
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Burma music,
Burmese dance, dance photos, dancing
show,
Myanmar entertainment, classic
dance, traditional, folklore,
Myanmar dance.
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Without music, song and dance
life is not complete. Although the performing arts
of Myanmar have been influenced by the arts
and culture of India, China, Sri Lanka and
Thailand, Myanmar has preserved and
developed its own culture including
traditional dance. Dance and dancing is
performed as classic dance, pure
entertainment and folklore show. The
best dancing show is probably a blend
between classic dance and folklore.
Myanmar "Ahak" dance
can be
traced back to the first. Century A.D. Records show
that as early as A.D.802 a "Pyu" music and
dance troupe including 35 artists and 22
musical instruments was sent on a goodwill
mission to China
to present a Myanmar
classic dance performance. After the Pyu
period, Bagan became the focus of cultural
activities and Indian, Sri Lankan, China,
Pyu, Mon, Myanmar and
indigenous nationals cultures celebrated
Myanmar classic dance during the Bagan
period from 1057 to 1287.
Stone inscriptions of this period mention 21
musical instruments and 64 kinds of
musicians and Myanmar dancers and also the word "Ka-Chay-Tha-Bin"
which means Music and Dance Festival. King
Nga Si Shin Kyawswa of Pinya dynasty
composed "Kar-Chins" or martial songs for a
shield dance in 1336. In 1714, Minister
Padetharaja wrote a play entitled "Manikhet
Zat" which initiated the form of "Zat-Kyi"
or traditional grand drama. He also composed
thirty seven "Nat" songs. Marionette theatre
and "Myay-Waing" dance also emerged at about
this time.
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This was
performed on a circular plot of ground
on the same
level as the audience. In 1767, King Hsinbyushin
conquered
Ayutthaya, the capital of
Siam, today
Thailand and
brought back many craftsman and artists including court dancing girls who
introduced and taught Thai dance forms in Myanmar. Thus
styles have been enriched by
absorbing techniques and styles from
neighbors. Interest
in all forms of arts and crafts declined during
British rule. To revive and promote the performing
arts after the country regained independence, the
government opened the State School of Music and
Drama in Yangon in 1954 and the State School of Fine
Arts, Music and Dancing at Mandalay, in 1955. |
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The present basic Myanmar classic dance course known as "Ka-byar-lut,"
is performed with drum beats as the only
accompaniment. A stone figure in the Shwezigon
pagoda from the Bagan period portrays the "Ka-byar-lut"
dance style, suggesting that this basic dance has
been in existence for a very long time.
There are a number of popular dances
performed for state guests, visitors and the general
public at festivals or at restaurants.
One is the "Bon-she" or
long drum dance featuring two long drums, a pair of
cymbals, a bamboo clapper and a "Hne," a wind
instrument similar to an oboe. The "Ozi" or potdrum
dance includes a drummer who may carry and play from
one or many drums, two bamboo clappers, a cymbals
player, an oboe player and an "Ozi" dancer usually
garbed as a prince or a royal page boy.
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Myanmar dance at a
Yangon festival |
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The "Dobat," or two-faced drum dance is
performed by
two drummers, one bamboo clapper, a cymbalist, an
oboist and a dancer. This dance is always performed
in village festivities with very little music. Folk
festivals also feature "Toenaya" dance. The Toenaya
is a mythical figure made up of jute, coarse paper
and strips of bamboo. The dancer dons the framework
of the gaily painted and decorated Toenaya figure
and performs the dance together with the "Dobat" or
"Ozi" music.
The "Mingalar bar" dance,
a greeting dance
and traditional performance bestowing
blessings upon the audience, is a very graceful
dance on the "Nat" votaress. The "Si-mi-kwet dance
or oil lamp dance, features dancers carrying lighted
oil lamps on their palms paying homage and reverence
to the Buddha. The suppleness and skill of the
dancer enables her to move hands, feet, body and
head without upsetting the lamp or extinguishing the
flames during the performance.
Other popular dances are the "Tabin-Taing,"
traditional solo Myanmar dance; "Zawgyi," or alchemist
dance; "Anyeint," a solo, artistic dance performed
together with story telling, humor, jokes and shows;
"Ahpyodaw," maid of honour dance; "Wun," minister
dance;
"Ayoke," or marionette dance, where the dancers
perform imitating the movements of puppets; the
"Nay-yar-dawkhin" or royal page boy dance; the "Sidaw,"
or royal drum dance and others. Myanmar traditional dances can be
enjoyed in several restaurants and hotels -like
Kandawgyi Palae Hotel- also as a dinner show.
The
Myanmar orchestra, called a "Saing"
in which percussion
instruments dominate, provides the musical
accompaniment for the traditional dances. The
orchestra consists of the "Patt Waing," a circle of
21 drums in the centre, the "Kyay Maing," a circle
of gongs, a "Patt-Ma," single large drum, "Lingwin,"
cymbals, a "Hne," wind instrument similar to an
oboe, a " Palwe," bamboo flute, "Wah-Let-Khoke,"
bamboo clappers and a "Pattalar," bamboo xylophone.
Sometimes there may
also be a "Saung-Gauk," Myanmar harp, to
complete the ensemble. |
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Myanmar orchestra |
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