Dance and theater of Laos

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The Dance and Theater of Laos are closely intertwined. They focus on Theravada Buddhism and the Pra Lak Pra Lam.

[edit] Lao Ballet

Ballet was introduced to Laos by the French.

[edit] Traditional Lao dance

The traditional Lao dance is called the lum vong. Everybody gets into a circle and sometimes it will be big or small because it depends on the song that's playing, the lam or morlam. Then everybody phanh, in a circular way repeating the circle until the song stops. The circle and the dance are very coordinated and oriented. If the style and the beat of the song is slow, the dancers will go slow and vice versa, if it's fast, the circle will go faster. One of the most notable morlams are Lum Saravane which has many different versions. This particular song tells you what to do.

During Lao New Year and some other festivals, there will be professional Lao dancers ranging from different ages and styles of the dance. Some of the dancers will be a group of teenagers or children performing the ancient dances that has been passing down from generation to generation. Different cultures of Laos will also perform to express their cultures like the Hmong, Tai Dum and others. And sometimes, even the seven contestants, Miss Lao New Year or the recent Miss Lao New Year will perform a dance. Usually, the dance will appear before the whole event to take place so it will be an opening act to represent the New Year is now going to be celebrated.

[edit] Theater

There are live theaters in Laos. The stories that they tell are usually fable old stories that have been famous in Laos. They take that tale and turn it in a live play which many Laotions go on their spare time and watch it.