Rapping down Broadway

The start of the Asean Economic Community is almost upon us yet, for the majority of Thais the concept of forging a common identity and building a caring and sharing society with our fellow AEC citizens, is as inconceivable as it ever was.

Fortunately, then, that we have a group of rappers to show us the way. The youngsters from Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand put their heads together during a recent cultural workshop and despite the language barriers had no problem in putting together a harmoniously composed rap song in a matter of hours.

The “Youth Excellence on Stage (Yes) Academy Asean” workshop, the sixth of its kind, was organised by the Association of American Voices with the support of the US Embassy in Bangkok and featured training in Broadway musical theatre, rap and emceeing as well as hip-hop and break dancing. More than 80 aspiring musicians and actors from across Thailand, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam plus the observer nation of Papua New Guinea, attended.

The trainers, who flew in from New York for the event, included Broadway star Nikki Snelson of “Legally Blonde: The Musical” fame, vocalist Ira Spaulding from the City College of New York, rapper Farbeon Saucedo, and break dancer James Colter, who is better known as Cricket.

Under the direction of Academy founder and Bangkok-based pianist, John Ferguson, these stars brought an unparalleled set of learning opportunities to students of Thailand and the Asean region in the form of an 11-day Academy that ran from July 20 to last Friday at Chulalongkorn University.

“It’s important for me to try to pass on what I’ve learned and make it easier for the next person who comes along,” Snelson told XP. 

Saul Mercado from the US embassy, added that the academy’s activities were designed to promote cross-cultural experiences and highlight the long and enduring relationship between the US and Thailand.

More importantly, though, the workshops helped strengthen the bonds between Asean youngsters through cultural exchanges and sharing of common interests.

“I have learnt more about being part of Asean in this summer camp than in the classroom,” said Nareekun Kritsanasang, 20, one of the Thai rappers.

She was also delighted to have made new friends from other countries, saying it had given her a chance to learn their cultures and a little of their languages. The rap workshop was a hit too, offering basic knowledge about the theory and evolution of rapping. She and her crew were encouraged to write their raps in their own languages and perform together as a band.

“Rap is poetry, it’s just that you make the sound out loud rather than write it on paper. It can be practised in other languages apart from English,” said the team’s mentor, rapper Farbeon Saucedo, who thoroughly enjoyed working with his students.

“These young people are amazing. They work hard and are always up fora new thingand as a teacher this is very fulfilling.”

Hip-hop and break dancers, 24-year-old Wai Lin Tun from Myanmar and 23-year-old Sovann Dyrithy from Cambodia, also had fun at the workshop, improving their skills and becoming friends.

“Teamwork is really important,” said Wai Lin Tun.

“Hip-hop and break dance are different types of dances but we have to dance together in the same song so conformity is key,” added Sovann Dyrithy.

Jedsada Tharnnop, 23, who joined the Broadway musical workshop, said that he was fascinated by original American Broadway dance, which is different to the applied dance he had so far experienced. 

Working with his mentors Snelson and Spaulding, had taught him a lot.

“It was good to face new challenges and open up to different cultures,” he enthused.

The workshop closed out with presentations by all participants covering what they had achieved and learnt in this session and an Asean cabaret show for which the youngsters donned their traditional costumes.