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“Reflecting Harmonies” – a contemporary dance review

Asanee Wasan rock 20,000 fans in Pattaya

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“Reflecting Harmonies” – a contemporary dance review

Tony Godel
This dance performance was part of one of the workshop events during the “New Ecologies Art Exhibition” at the Sheraton Hotel. It took place at night in one of their pool areas which provided a sublime space for the dance and indeed inspired the work. To quote the publicity material, it was “site specific”. Nuttawat Sitti choreographed as well as took part with four other dancers, Mongkoi Mongkoiswasai, Saengthip Wareesaengthip, Kittiporn Udomrattaankuichai, and Suwitcha Suwisuth. The piece was curated by Manipa Jayawan.
The challenging and ambitious theme of this dance work postulated “why peace and harmony ensues after disaster and conflict?”
This was an avant-garde work which challenged the audience and performers alike. The programme started at a very slow ponderous pace but warmed up later with some very memorable and varied images. All the dancers were extremely concentrated and conveyed a haunting presence in and around the vast expanse of the pool.
There was a human sculpture-like quality permeating the work which was enhanced by the cream coloured long skirted costumes worn by all the performers. Needless to say, as much of the performance was in water the costumes became wet which added to their effectiveness.
Towards the end of the programme we were bombarded by the recorded strident voice of Allan Ginsberg who read his didactic poem “Plutonium Ode”(1978) which is a passionate outcry against nuclear contamination and pollution. This poem features in the Philip Glass Symphony No. 6 which was the final piece of music used. This poetic and musical choice was unnecessary as the language of the dance spoke for itself.
Sitti was a bit over ambitious adopting the role of choreographer and dancer. With a little bit of editing and refining this piece could become even more effective and thought provoking. Sitti’s choreography came to the fore however, when the dancers worked as an ensemble rather than performing solo. There was a superb scenario when the whole atmosphere changed to a lighter more uplifting note as the dancers interacted together with a large white parachute-like fabric creating some memorable images in the pool.
Hopefully this dance event will be the precursor of many others in various venues which will help broaden the horizons of dance in this city.

Carefully choreographed dance moves in the “Reflecting Harmonies” workshop held at the Sheraton Hotel & Resort, Pattaya on Feb. 22. (Photo/Ric Delvin)

Staged in the hotel’s swimming pool, the performance naturally had
a waterborne theme to it.(Photo/Ric Delvin)

Asanee Wasan rock 20,000 fans in Pattaya

PM Reporters
After successful performances by the legendary brothers Asanee and Wasan Chotikul at different capitals around the world with the ‘Singha World Tour’ campaign, they had their big concert night right here in Pattaya on Saturday, Feb. 21 at the Eastern Seaboard Sports Stadium, Soi Chaiyapruk.

Asanee (left) and Wasan Chotikul perform on stage in Pattaya.

This concert was put together by Boonrawd Brewery, Pattaya City, Royal Thai Navy and Thai National TV Channel 3 with the idea of attracting a large crowd and boosting the local economy. And it was indeed a very successful show with over 20,000 fans turning up to the event. The organizers ran promotional videos on national TV channels prior to the gig and used printed media locally to ensure that the stadium was packed with fans at show-time.
Part of the proceeds of this concert will go towards the ‘S.O.S. 2009’ or the Save Our Sea 2009 fund in which the Royal Thai Navy hopes to make this year a conservative year for marine life with collaboration from both the private and public sectors.
At the show, Asanee and Wasan thrilled the audience with more than 2 hours of their all time favorite songs and were ably supported by guest singers Zita and Kob Sawanee. The more than twenty thousand fans at the venue certainly went home happy afterwards.
The Singha World Tour trip will have its last concert in Bangkok this April. All fans of Asanee and Wasan Chotikul are recommended to book their seats as soon possible as it’s sure to be a sell-out and the organizers promise yet another great show.

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