Traditional Theme
Culture of Myanmar

Dance & Drama

Myanmar’s classical dance-drama styles are entirely indigenous. Most arrived from Thailand during periods of Burmese conquest of Thai kingdoms, taken from Thailand are known as yodaya zat. The most Burmese dances feature solo performances by female dancers who wear strikingly colourful dresses with long white trains, which they kick into the air with their heels - quite a feat, given the restrictive length of the train. One wonders how a dancer could walk while wearing such a costume, much less dance in it. A zat pwe involves a re-creation of an ancient legend or Buddhist jataka (life story of the Buddha) while the yamazat picks a tale from the Indian epic Ramayana. The arm and head movements often seek to mimic those of Burmese marionette theatre. Burmese dance scholars have catalogued around 2000 dance movements, including 13 head movements, 28 eye movements, nine neck movements, 24 ways of moving only one hand plus 23 using both hands, 38 leg movements, eight body postures and 10 walking movements.

Puppet Show (Marionette)
Youq-the pwe (Burmese marionette) presents colourful puppets up to a meter high in a spectacle that many aesthetics consider that the most expressive of all the Burmese arts. The Burmese have great respect for an expert puppeteer; indeed a youq-the pwe is thought to demand a more skilled and artistic performance than a zat pwe. Some marionettes may be manipulated by a dozen of more strings; certain Nat may sport up to 60 strings, including one for each eyebrow. The marionette master’standard repertoire requires a troupe of 28 puppets including Thagyamin (king of the gods); a Burmese king, queen, prince and princess; a regent; two court pages; an old man and an old woman; a villain; a hermit; four ministers; two clowns; one good and one evil nat; a Brahmin astrologer; two ogres; a zawgyi (alchemist); a horse; a monkey; a makara (mythical sea serpent); and an elephant. These figures bring together the talents of singers, puppeteers, musicians, wood-carvers, embroiderers and set designers. Marionette theatre declined following WW11 and is now mostly confined to tourist venues in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan. Rather less frequently it appears at pwe sponsored by wealthy patrons.

Classical Music
The original of Myanmar’s musical tradition came from Thailand during the reign of King Hsinbyushin, in 1767. During this period, Siamese court musicians, dancers and entertainers from Ayuthaya were brought to Myanmar. The hsaing waing (the circle of tuned drums) and formalized classical dancing styles, such music is mean to be played as the jatakas or Ramayana. Musical instruments are predominantly percussive, but even the hsaing waing may carry the melody. These drums are tuned by placing a wad of paq-sa (drum food)- made from a kneaded paste of rice and wood-ash – onto the centre of the drum head, Then adding or subtracting a pinch at a time till the desired drum tone is attained. By the use of multiple hand and stick strokes, Burmese percussionists can create melodic and chord patterns on the large banks of drums employed in a typical performance. In addition to the hsaing waing, the traditional hsaing (Burmese ensemble) of seven to 10 musicians will usually play: the kye-naung (a circle of tuned brass gongs); the saung gauq (a boat-shaped harp with 13 strings); the pattala (a sort of xylophone); the hneh (an oboe-type instrument related to the Indian shanai); the pa-lwe (a bamboo flute);the mi-gyaung (crocodile lute); the paq-ma ( a bass drum); and the yagwin (small cymbals) and wa-leq-hkouq (bamboo clappers), which are purely rhythmic in nature and are often played by Burmese vocalists. It is also common to see a violin or two in an hsaing. Solo piano music has also become part of the traditional Burmese musical repertoire.

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•Traditional Customs and Dances
•Traditional Wedding Ceremony