Dance entertainment in Asia
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Patravadi Theatre
Patravadi is Bangkok’s sole modern-dance venue. A stylish open-air theatre that also includes a gallery and restaurant, it is the brainchild of Patravadi Mejudhon, a famous Thai actor and playwright. The dance-troupe performance is a blend of traditional Thai dance and modern choreography, music and costume. The theatre is also the primary venue for the Bangkok International Fringe Festival, held in January and February.
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Gasolina
This stylish garden bar specialises in the sensual sounds of South America and even offers salsa lessons (Tuesday and Thursday nights). Rum punches, cheap beers and a tasty bar menu round things off. Check out the weekend brunches.
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Dharohar
The beautiful Bagore-ki-Haveli hosts the best (and most convenient) opportunity to see Rajasthani folk dancing.
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State Opera & Ballet Theatre
Built by the Russians in 1932, the State Opera & Ballet Theatre is the salmon-pinkish building on the southeast corner of Sükhbaatar Sq. On Saturday and Sunday evenings throughout the year, and sometimes also on weekend afternoons in the summer, the theatre holds stirring opera (in Mongolian) and ballet shows.
One of the best local operas is Three Fateful Hills - sometimes known as the Story of Three Lives - by Mongolia's most famous poet and playwright, D Natsagdorj. Another recommended opera is Uran Khas, written by J Chuluun. Other productions include an exhilarating (but long) rendition of Carmen, plus plenty of Puccini and Tchaikovsky.
A board outside the theatre l…
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Alisher Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre
Tashkent has a full cultural life, some of it, such as drama, of interest mainly to Uzbek and Russian speakers. But one of Central Asia's best cultural bargains and a highlight for all visitors to Tashkent is the Alisher Navoi Opera & Ballet Theatre, where you can enjoy quality classical Western opera almost any night (except during the months June to August). Shows change daily - in just a week you can see Swan Lake, Carmen, Rigoletto and the Uzbek opera Timur the Great.
The interior harbours various regional artistic styles - a different one in each room - executed by the best artisans of the day, and under the direction of the architect of Lenin's tomb in Moscow. Japan…
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Dance Performances
In a week in Ubud, you can see Kecak, Legong and Barong dances, Mahabharata and Ramayana ballets, wayang kulit puppets and gamelan orchestras. Ubud Tourist Information has performance information and sells tickets (usually Rp50000). For performances outside Ubud, transport is often included in the price. Tickets are also sold at many hotels, and by street vendors who hang around outside Ubud Palace - all charge the same price as the tourist office.
Vendors sell drinks at the performances, which typically last about one to 1½ hours. Before the show, you might notice the musicians checking out the size of the crowd - ticket sales fund the troupes. Also watch for potential m…
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The Khatan Ekh National Song & Dance Group
A performance of traditional music and dance will be one of the highlights of your visit to Mongolia and should not be missed. You'll see outstanding examples of the unique Mongolian throat-singing, known as khöömii; full-scale orchestral renditions of new and old Mongolian music; contortionists guaranteed to make your eyes water; traditional and modern dancing; and recitals featuring the unique horse-head violin, the morin khuur.
The Khatan Ekh National Song & Dance Group at Discovery Mongolia Information Centre is similar to The Tumen Ekh Song & Dance Ensemble at the State Youth & Children's Theatre, which is the most popular cultural show in town, featuring tradition…
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National Theatre
On Namsan, this complex is home to the national drama, national changgeuk (Korean opera), national orchestra and national dance companies. Venues include the main hall and outdoor stages where free concerts and movies are put on in summer. The website shows the varied schedule. It’s a 15-minute walk from the subway exit or take the yellow bus 2 (W800, every 10 minutes) from the bus stop just behind Exit 6.
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Session House
Dance aficionados consider Session House one of the best traditional, folk and modern dance spaces in the city. The theatre seats only 100 people, ensuring an intimate and memorable performance. Exit right from Kagurazaka Station, make a right into the first narrow alley, and turn left where it dead-ends. Session House will be a few metres on your right.
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Kyō Odori
Held at Miyagawa-chō Kaburen-jō Theatre (宮川町歌舞練場), east of the Kamo-gawa between Shijō-dōri and Gojō-dōri; from the first to the third Sunday in April.
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Seoul Norimadang
This large, covered outdoor arena hosts entertaining traditional music and dance performances on weekend afternoons. Shows include masked satirical plays, dynamic drumming demonstrations and group and individual dancing. The standard is high and local pensioners come along. If you are inside Lotte World, follow the signs to Charlotte Theatre.
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Taipei Eye
Situated in Zhongshan, this new venue showcases Chinese opera together with other rotating performances, including puppet theatre and aboriginal dance. Even though it's meant for tourists, audience members have the unique opportunity to watch the actors as they rehearse and put on make-up, wigs and costumes. Enter from Jinzhou St.
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Paramount Ballroom
This old art-deco theatre was the biggest nightclub in Shanghai in the 1930s before transforming into the Red Capital Cinema in the Mao years. An unusual throwback in today’s Shanghai, it has low-key tea dances in the afternoon as well as ballroom dancing in the evening. Dance partners are Y35 to Y45 for 10 minutes.
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Miyako Odori
At Gion Kōbu Kaburen-jō Theatre (祇園甲部歌舞練場), near Gion Corner; throughout April.
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Sala Chalermkrung
This art deco Bangkok landmark, a former cinema dating to 1933, is one of the few remaining places kŏhn can be witnessed. The traditional Thai dance-drama is enhanced here by laser graphics, hi-tech audio and English subtitles. Concerts and other events are also held – check the website for details.
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Kala Academy
On the west side of the city at Campal is Goa’s premier cultural centre, which features a program of dance, theatre, music and art exhibitions throughout the year. Many shows are in Konkani, but there are occasional English-language productions; call to find out what’s on when you’re in town.
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Salsa Sudada
Tokyo’s sizable population of Peruvian and Colombian workers, many of whom grind away at factories in Kawasaki and Yokohama, come here to salsa and merengue, as do many salsa-mad locals. If you don’t know how to dance, they’ll teach you (lessons held nightly).
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New Himalchuli Cultural Group
The New Himalchuli Cultural Group is a dance troupe that performs nightly at a crummy restaurant in Lazimpat. The hour-long show costs Rs 350 and starts at 19:00 in summer (October to April) and 18:30 in winter (May to September). Ring in advance to check that a performance is planned.
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Kitano Odori
At Kamishichiken Kaburen-jō Theatre (上七軒歌舞練場), east of Kitano-Tenman-gū; 15 to 25 April.
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Dance show
A fashion and traditional dance show takes place in the Alloquli Khan Medressa nightly in the high season, by request at other times. Book tickets through the tourist information office or at the gate, and be sure to ask for a discount, which is often granted to tourists.
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Apsara Theatre
There are classical dance shows all over town, but the Apsara Theatre is a class apart, set in a striking wooden pavilion finished in the style of a wat, which plays host to one of the more renowned troupes around town. Sadly the set menu doesn’t live up to the spectacle.
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Rumentang Siang
Bandung’s premier performing arts centre, where wayang golek, Jaipongan (West Javanese dance), pencak silat (the art of self-defence), Sandiwara (traditional Javanese theatre) and ketoprak (popular Javanese folk theatre) performances are held.
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Space Zero
This is a 550-seat fine-art performance venue that happens to be located centrally in Shinjuku. Space Zero is host to contemporary dance performances and experimental theatre productions. You’ll find it in the basement of the Zenrōsai Kaikan building.
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Abay State Opera & Ballet Theatre
Almaty's top cultural venue; three or four performances a week at 18:30. Classics like Swan Lake, La Bohème, Aida and Carmen are a few of the regular shows. Also look out for Kazakh operas such as Abay and Abylay Khan.
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