Tradition and technology come together to get closer to the gods.

There are some beliefs and rituals that are no longer practiced today, either due to this modern life leaving little time for preparation, or the knowledge lost between generations. What Thai dancer Kornkarn Rungsawang wants to do then, is to reconnect us to these traditions through her technologically-driven work Mali Bucha: Dance Offering, that blends traditional Thai dance with Virtual Reality (VR).

Performed at the Esplanade Theatre Studio as part of the Esplanade’s da:ns focus 2023: CAN – Connect Asia Now programme, Mali Bucha: Dance Offering is based on the traditional Thai Rum Kea Bon dance that seeks to act as a means to negotiate with higher beings to make wishes or prayers come true. Kornkarn herself is at the centre of this performance, becoming the vessel by which to process our wishes, as she communes with these invisible gods.

Even without knowing exactly what to expect, from the moment one steps into the Esplanade Theatre Studio, there is already a sense of warmth and welcome, with the audience seated around the performance area. We are given an information sheet, containing various QR codes leading to Instagram filters that allow us to hold a virtual animal in our hands or put a flower in the digital shrine to empower our wishes. While it can be intimidating, Kornkarn, already dressed in her elaborate, traditional Thai dance attire, complete with a pointed silver chada headpiece, goes around and personally assists various audience members in uploading our photos to the shrine, and even leaves us with a tiny bell to be used later in the show.

That isn’t all the performance has to offer – within the performance space, two VR headsets have been set up, which audience members can use to immerse ourselves in the digital shrine, complete with our animal offerings come ‘alive’ as we traverse through the somewhat surreal, sprawling alien landscape. Guided by an usher, we find ourselves flying through digital space, observing cicadas for love, frogs for abundance and cranes for freedom, all very much moving about or dancing, each one a totem of our desires, in this technicolour world. It’s fascinating, a little surreal, and altogether an incredibly vibrant take on what could often be seen as outdated, brought into the modern world via technology.

All of this puts us in high spirits for the actual performance to begin, a comfortable, safe space filled with good humour and the knowledge that we’re in for a good time. There is a sense of great importance as Kornkarn begins by removing her outfit and headpiece, speaking into a ring light as if she is preparing to go live, as if purifying or clearing her mind and body for the dance to begin. Carefully setting each piece away, she instead puts on a red headpiece, and a rooster-like tail, and begins to summon the ‘higher beings’ into our midst with the Rum Kea Bon dance.

As she dances, each hand gesture and step precise and purposeful, the screen behind her sends a digital wave of water crashing down onto the floor (also a projection screen), and it feels as if it has cleansed her, ready to become the medium to channel our wishes. There is something inherently powerful about each movement, so much that it feels like her steps are precisely what causes the screen behind to erupt into a flurry of images, trippy and dream-like with divine symbols, flowers and animals flashing across the screen. All this while, Zai Tang’s music adds an almost hypnotic beat to the entire atmosphere, drawing us in with its electronic twang and repetitive, steady rhythm.

To fulfil one’s wishes however, one must know exactly what we’re wishing for, and Mali Bucha goes beyond dance offering to also offer up a highly educational experience. One by one, Kornkarn leads us through the significance of each animal – the chicken for wealth, the monkey for family, and finally, the zebra for safety, each one appearing on the screen behind her as she speaks. It feels as if we’re traversing several heavenly planes of existence, lulled into a trance as she offers audience members a chance to personally come up to the shrine to make their wish, now equipped with exactly how to do it on their own. Even with a somewhat apprehensive audience, Zai Tang has prepared well for this possibility, yelling out some genuinely funny lines in an attempt to hard-sell this ritual. From how it’s a one-time offer for free, or how clarity of mind will help for PSLE and O Levels, Zai proves that he has salesman’s blood in him beyond also laying down his sick beats.

When Kornkarn manages to coax audience members up onstage, they kneel before the ring light, acting as a portal-like device for us to speak our wishes into existence, while the rest of the audience jingles the bells we were given. It feels as if we are contributing to this magic, and that we too have been given some kind of tiny but significant power to turn dreams into reality as well. Their faces projected onto the screen, posing with the virtual animal, it’s a little silly, but also all in good fun, as we wait to see what else Kornkarn has in store for us.

Eventually, the music swells as Kornkarn’s dancing reaches a similar climax, and we now find the digital shrine projected onto the screen, while a field of flower offerings fills the floor. Kornkarn decides one lucky audience member the chance to come up and have his wish fulfilled, and he boldly comes up to put on the VR headset. Kornkarn takes some time to guide him towards his chosen animal (the monkey), while we watch with bated breath. It breaks the momentum somewhat, but when he eventually does reach it, she breathes a sigh of relief, and the wish-fulfilling ritual begins proper, while we ring our bells again, more and more vigorously, as if willing something to happen.

We will never know if his wish comes true, but as he leaves the shrine and returns to his seat, the energy begins to lower, and Kornkarn takes the time to finally bring the ritual to a close. The lights begin to dim around her, and we begin to allow ourselves to relax, comforted by her warm presence and giving spirit, the invigorating music, and how fascinating the entire process felt. It genuinely feels as if we have been properly welcomed into a spiritual space, and have been given the privilege to know this ancient ritual brought into the modern world.

Amidst some technical issues and a need to convince the reticent Singaporean audience to be more forthcoming in their participation, Mali Bucha: Dance Offering is a sincere and genuinely fun experience that puts a smile on your face. By its end, as the lights dim and leave only ambient music in the air, you feel a little closer to divinity through this odd but heartfelt ritual, thankful for the opportunity for your desires to be seen and heard. Perhaps somewhere out there, there truly is a higher being listening to us all, and before we know it, our offerings will be blessed by a wish come true.

Mali Bucha: Dance Offering ran from 13th to 15th October 2023 at the Esplanade Theatre Studio. da:ns focus 2023: CAN – Connect Asia Now ran from 13th to 15th October 2023 at the Esplanade. More information available here

The next edition of da:ns focus 2023: FL/OW runs from 1st to 3rd December 2023 at the Esplanade. More information available here

Production Credits:

Concept, Choreography and Dance: Kornkarn Rungsawang (Thailand)   Sound Design: Zai Tang (UK/Singapore)   VR/AR Design: The Virtualizers (Thailand)   CG Supervisor/VFX Director: Asst. Prof. Gomesh Karnchanapayap (Ph.D)   Technical Director/Lead Programmer: Siwat Suksri   3D Scanning/3DAnimator/Rigging: Piyanon Somboon   Assistant Technical Director: Wijittra Prasatkaew   Lighting Design: Asako Miura (Japan)   Dramaturg: Tang Fu Kuen (Singapore/Norway)   Costume Design: Manit Theppatimaporn, Kanapoot Viruttanachai (Thailand)   Production Stage Manager: Yap Seok Hui (Singapore)  Technical Direction: ARTFACTORY  Producer: Sojirat Singholka (Thailand)   Residency supported by: Kinosaki International Arts Center (Toyooka City)