Chronicles of an Exchange Student’s Odyssey in Thailand — 7#Ram Thai
Join Wanida on her cultural journey as she discovers the intricate world of Ram Thai, a mesmerizing traditional Thai dance
Hello, my friend! Today, I will tell you about Wanida’s adventure into the world of Ram Thai — a traditional Thai dance that led her to an unexpected cultural immersion. Being the sole foreigner in the class, she embarked on a journey that unveiled the intricate beauty and complexity of this mesmerizing art form.
Are you ready?
Let’s fly!
Ram Thai Journey
Wanida had heard about Ram Thai, a traditional form of dance performed in the Thai school, and finally, her moment came. She was filled with anticipation as she made her way to the school, and when she arrived, she was met with stares from the other students. Wanida was the only foreigner in the building and felt slightly unconfident.
The French girl was sitting on the wooden bench and reading about the dance while other students practiced the moves in front of the stairs outdoors. The class was performing graceful, measured moves that involved the arms and the legs in perfect coordination.
Each motion of the arms was accompanied by a light kick of the feet, and each step was made with accuracy and precision. The entire group of diligent students was in sync, seamlessly transitioning between different poses and postures with grace and poise.
Wanida discovered on the internet that Ram Thai dance is not as easy to perform as it might seem. It demands precision in hand and finger movements, known as “mudras,” which symbolize emotions and stories. Dancers must also navigate heavy, ornate costumes, master delicate footwork, and express emotions effectively. Maintaining poise and grace while synchronizing with live music adds complexity to the performance.
Once the class began, however, her fears melted away. The teacher, a woman of her beautiful age, welcomed Wanida warmly and began to explain the basics of Ram Thai.
“Wanida, are you ready?” the dance teacher came up to the girl.
Wanida smiled, “Ready!”
The teacher kindly explained that Ram Thai was divided into Khon and Local Performances. Khon was a high-class performance of graceful movement and elegant costumes, while the local performance focused more on vibrant, energetic movement and colorful garments. Then, the teacher showed the basic gestures.
A few moments later, the mentor demonstrated to Wanida the basic moves of Ram Thai. Although the movements were complex, the teacher demonstrated each step in a slow and easy-to-follow manner. She explained that certain hand gestures and facial expressions had specific meanings, and as she demonstrated them, Wanida began to understand how important they were for conveying emotion in the dance.
The teacher then moved on to the most essential part of Ram Thai — the hand and finger movements, or mudras. She explained that each mudra had a distinct meaning, and it was essential for Wanida to master these movements in order to convey the story of the dance.
The French girl was amazed at how intricate and detailed each gesture was, from creating a heart shape with her hands to pointing her fingers in a particular direction.
After learning some of the basic steps, the teacher moved on to more complex moves. As she watched Wanida diligently follow her instructions and attempt each movement with enthusiasm, she smiled and offered words of encouragement.
The class continued as Wanida grew more confident with each step. She began to feel herself falling into the rhythm of the music and gracefully executing each movement with ease. Soon enough, she was moving confidently around the room in time with the music, smiling at her classmates whenever their eyes met across the room.
The music was a melodic creation of traditional Thai instruments like drums and flutes, merging with contemporary sounds of modern beats and synthesizers.
The song ebbed and flowed with an ever-evolving series of crescendos and decrescendos, a dynamic rhythm that drew Wanida and her classmates further into the moment as they danced in single-minded harmony. It was a wild, passionate symphony of ancient and modern tones that created a world of its own within the room.
By the time class was over, Wanida felt utterly exhausted but also incredibly happy. She had learned so much about Ram Thai during just one lesson and couldn’t wait to keep practicing until she was ready for her first performance!
When the class ended, Wanida felt oddly energized. She thanked the teacher for her guidance and had a newfound appreciation for this form of traditional dance.
She couldn’t believe how much she had learned in such a short period of time. The girl felt a sense of joy that she hadn’t experienced in a long time. She knew that she had made the right decision to learn Thai dances, and she was already looking forward to the next one.
Wanida’s initial apprehension gave way to newfound confidence and joy as she embraced the challenges of Ram Thai in our school. With each graceful movement, she uncovered the rich tapestry of Thai culture, realizing that this dance was not just a series of steps but a profound expression of tradition and emotion.
As she left her first class, energized and eager for more, Wanida had taken her first steps into a captivating world where dance transcends borders and speaks the language of the heart.
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