Dazzling 'Dandaree' under fire

 

Thailand's largest event management company Index Creative Village will stage a Myanmar cultural show entitled “Dandaree” (“Myth”) in the ancient city of Bagan to boost local tourism and attract foreign visitors.  The show features specially trained Thai dancers and thespians presenting a series of traditional Myanmar performances alongside a full-scale traditional Myanmar orchestra, life-sized marionettes and pyrotechnics.

  The plan stirred criticisms. “Dandaree” has come under fire from critics who say the organiser should not use an all-Thai troupe to present traditional Myanmar performances. 

"Only the Myanmar people know and understand the Myanmar culture best," said Maung Maung Htway, proprietor director of the Htway Oo Myanmar Puppet Troupe.

"As a Thai troupe is coming to perform our traditional dances for the tourists, I’m worried that that the shows might be misleading and cause a misunderstanding among the tourists about our culture. That's why I want to know how much they have studied our culture and prepared the costumes and also how they managed to obtain the official permission [from the authorities]," he said.

According to a report by TTG Asia, the cultural show features 100 performers and crew members from Myanmar and other Southeast Asian nations presenting dance, athletic and martial art performances. Maung Maung Htway insists that “Dandaree” doesn’t include even a single Myanmar dancer. 

"As far as I know, I haven't heard about any local dance group to perform in this show. That’s a surprise. I feel sad because a Thai group is coming here to stage traditional [Myanmar] performances on Myanmar soil," he added.

A series of 80-minute cultural shows will be held later this month until March next year at the Bagan Golden Palace, which has a seating capacity of 500. Tickets for each show start from $50. The opening ceremony will be attended by invited distinguished guests including 80 VIPs from Thailand.