Malaysian Dance Troupe Mesmerises Bangkok With 'ramayana' Performance

By Kenny Teng Khoon Hock

BANGKOK, July 18 (Bernama) -- A Malaysian Odissi classical dance troupe recently captivated audiences at the International Ramayana Festival in Bangkok with a mesmerising performance of the epic "Ramayana."

Led by Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, chairman of the Sutra Foundation in Kuala Lumpur, the dance troupe brought his artistic vision to life. This production, which debuted in 2022, was showcased at the festival held from July 12 to 15.

“We give the best that Ramayana can offer. For the performance in Malaysia, we called our production “Jaya Ram”, translated as ‘Triumphant Rama’. It was choreographed in the Indian classical dance style of Odissi, the Indian classical dance from the state of Odisha, Eastern India. 

“This time, Malaysia presents itself as a country with a transcultural offering, emphasising that arts and culture have become a globalised experience. We are one family," he told Bernama during an interview here.

The International Ramayana Festival was organised by Thailand’s Ministry of Culture to commemorate King Maha Vajiralongkorn’s 72nd birthday on July 28.

The festival was held at three locations in Bangkok: Thailand Cultural Centre, Sanam Luang ceremonial ground, and shopping mall ICONSIAM from July 12 to 15.

The performance was a cultural collaboration between Malaysia and India, celebrating the timeless narrative of the Ramayana and showcasing the rich tradition of Odissi dance.

Apart from Malaysia and the host Thailand, six other countries participated in the festival including India, Cambodia, Myanmar, Singapore, The Philippines, and Indonesia. Each showcased their unique interpretations of the epic “Ramayana” through performances.

Meanwhile, Ramli said the experience was very special and it was worth the effort to perform here because he felt that the audience was very responsive and enthusiastic as every time they performed, there were more than two thousand people in attendance.

"I feel that why we should give more importance performing in Europe or New York when places in Southeast Asia can offer such a wonderful audience and performances are so well received here," he said.

He added that the festival offered a good opportunity for all visitors to experience Ramayana's rich narrative in a diverse and creative way.

-- BERNAMA