The International forum on local information network in the ASEAN region : Digitization of selected local cultural heritage materials, September 5-6, 2013

History Origin: - Nang Keo is a historical dance from the time in which Lao was a kingdom; it originated in the 14 th century, during the reign of Fa Ngum. - Fa Ngum was married to a Khmer princess. When she was se nt to Laos her father the King sent an orchestral team, both the performers and instruments. - When Fa Ngum became King of Luang Prabang he founded this township and built many temples including Wat Xieng Thong.

- At the time Luang Prabang was called Xeing Dong Xieng Th ong. After the founding they celebrated by organizing a dance to o ffer to the King Fa Ngum and his wife at the pagoda. - The name of this dance was Nang Keo, chosen in honor of his wife, as her name was Nang Kaeo Keng ya was a Khmer princess so the dance is a mixture of Khmer and Lao dance styles.

-Many centuries passed and the dance evolved into the traditional Lao style dance of Luang Prabang. -During the past this dance was performed only at the Royal Palace and in the temples when the King’s family visited the temple.

- Always Nang Kaeo Dance is the last or the ended presentation of the royal Ballet Phralak Phralam, and between the seventeen gestures of nang kaeo dance, the13th gesture represented of Nang Sida strolls in the forest.Sida is the wife of Phralam.

- The story linewas from Ramayana to Phralak – Phralam in Lao version, two major works are noticed in ancient Indian literature : The Mahabharata, along epic poem of 25000verses, and a somewhat shorter composition, the Ramayana or ‘ Rama’s path’. - The latter, written in Sanskrit, would have been composed by the poet valmiki some200 years B.C.

- It was introduced in laos in the 15 th century under the king Phothisarath and translated into lao and adapted to the local environment under the title of phralak-phralam. - The characters were given lao names: Rama became Phralam,Lakshana became Phralak, Sita became Sia,Ravana,the ogre king of Lanka,became Thosakan.Jatayu,the bird king and friend of Rama, became Sadaayu, while Hanuman,leader of the army of monkeys,retrined his original name.

- The ballet was perfected throughout the centuries and the nine episodes were successively performed in turn at the court of Luang Phrabang under different reigns. - A story teller,generally an elder master artist, sings the text and dialogues while musician and dancer illustrate the song with music dance. - So since date they combined the story with nang Kaeo dance. Some people said “ Fonh Phralak-Phralam nang Kaeo”or Phralak- Phralam Nang Kaeo Dance.

The performance of Nang Kaeo consist of dancers and10musicians who beat the nang Kaeo dance. The dancers are all females dancing in union from beginning till end.

Thank you for your kind attention