Khon Training with PKDC
Experience Thai Traditional-Contemporary Dance training
Pichet Klunchun Dance Company (PKDC) offers customized training opportunities for individuals or groups — from complete beginners to professionals — in Thai Traditional Dance (Khon), Contemporary Dance, or a unique fusion of both.
Whether you’re looking for an immersive introduction or an intensive artistic deep-dive, our program allows you to learn directly from PKDC’s professional dancers in practice-based research, cultural translation, and the relationship between heritage and contemporary performance.
Duration: 1 days to 4 weeks
Venue: at our Chang Theater, our working studio, or Off-site in Thailand or Overseas
Registration: Private or group registration (subject to availability)
Program Highlights:
- Customized Learning Path: Focus on Thai Traditional Dance (Khon), and Thai-Contemporary Dance.
- Professional Instruction: Receive personal guidance from PKDC’s highly experienced dancers.
- Flexible Format: Private training or group sessions tailored to your interests, goals, and experience level.
- Creative & Cultural Immersion: Explore artistic movement, body awareness, and cultural context through a practice-based approach.
- Optional Artistic Collaboration: For artists interested in co-creation or research-based practice, additional collaboration pathways may be discussed.
Training Structure
From Classical Foundations to Contemporary Creation
PKDC’s training follows a three-stage learning arc, adaptable to the length and focus of each participant’s stay.
1. Context: Classical Thai Foundations
Training begins with grounding in Thai traditional performance, with a focus on Khon. Participants learn basic movement vocabularies, foundational poses, and their social, cultural, and symbolic contexts. This stage develops embodied discipline and introduces Thai intangible cultural heritage as a lived practice — not a museum artifact.
2. Deconstruction: Introducing the No.60 Elements
Classical forms are then analyzed and deconstructed through the No.60 system. Participants observe live demonstrations and break down traditional poses into their core components, revealing how structure, energy, and intention operate beneath formal aesthetics.This process clarifies the conceptual relationship between classical vocabularies and contemporary movement thinking.
3. Contemporary Application: Creation and Expression
The No.60 elements are applied as tools for contemporary exploration and creation. Participants experiment with new movement possibilities while remaining anchored in traditional principles. This phase positions tradition as a living, evolving practice — a framework for personal expression, research, and artistic authorship.
Why train with PKDC?
At PKDC, Thai Classical Dance/Khon is not taught as a fixed tradition, but as a system of knowledge — physical, philosophical, and cultural — that can be questioned, dismantled, and reimagined.
Who Can Join:
- Dancers, choreographers, performing artists (all levels welcome)
- Educators, researchers, or students in the performing arts
- Anyone interested in deepening their understanding of Thai movement arts — no dance background required.
Fees and Funding:
- PKDC is an independent, self-sustaining dance company. All training participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation, and training fees. Accommodation is not included; however, we are happy to provide recommendations upon request.
- Our fee structure for private class is at 1,500 THB for 1 hour — we aim to make this experience accessible while supporting our dancers and company operations. For group training, please inquire. Costs may vary depending on the length of training, number of participants, and proposed learning focus.
- If you are applying for external funding, PKDC can issue a letter of invitation and discuss ways to align your training proposal with grant or institutional goals.
Come Train with us
by filling out the online application form below, OR Contact us via Facebook page or email for any questions that you may have.
A five-day Thai Tradition-Contemporary Dance Workshop, led by Padung Jumpan, core dancer of PKDC. This training is designed for participants who wish to gain a grounded understanding of Thai Traditional Dance (Khon)—both as a traditional form and as a living practice that can be extended into contemporary performance contexts.
Program Details
📍 Venue: Chang Theater
📅 Dates: Monday–Friday, February 16–20, 2026
⏰ Time: 9.00–12.00 (3 hours per day)
👥 Class size: group (minimum 4 students)
Course Content
- Khon characters and their physical identities
- Physical preparation before training
- Structure of body movement in Thai classical dance
- Practical exercises for Thai classical dance movement
- Exercises exploring Thai contemporary concepts and expressive possibilities, drawing from classical foundations
Fee: 9,630 THB per person (VAT inclusive).
Apply now:
