Classical dance and theatre in South-East Asia

the long version

This lavishly illustrated book provides an introduction to the rich traditions of South-East Asian dance, theatre, and puppet theatre. In South-East Asia, as elsewhere in Asia, it is often not possible to draw a clear line between dance and theatre. Most theatrical forms are performed by dance movements or with dance-like gestures to the accompaniment of music. South-East Asian theatre is also characterized by the interaction of puppet theatre and living theatre which have their roots firmly in history. The movements and gestures of dancer-actors, the stories and their specific language, the musical instruments, and the elaborate costumes and masks can be hundreds or even thousands of years old. The book focuses mainly on classical traditions which are still performed, and separate chapters are devoted to Burma, Thailand, Java, and Bali. Malaysia, Cambodia, and Laos, where the classical traditions have partly disappeared or where performances incorporating these are now difficult for outsiders to see, are also referred to. Because South-East Asia has a significant Chinese population with its own theatrical traditions, Chinese theatre in the region and the Chinese-influenced theatre of Vietnam are discussed separately.