Thursday, 29 Jul 2010
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The Great Traditional Puppet Show PDF Print E-mail
The most technically upgraded traditional Myanmar Puppet Shows are very popular among the locally and Visitors these days. This Unique Marionette Theatre to see a traditional puppet-show in Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar (Burma) is the Traditional, Creative and Comic dances of specified marionette program will only be presented. This puppet show guarantee to be delightful the artistic performance of veteran professional puppeteers and new generation serve you with 4 regular shows daily started from 3 pm. The 14 kinds of programmes provide you fair ground knowledge of Myanmar Puppet with contentment.


Praying of puppet characters before the image of Lord Buddha
Tradition ordained that a marionette show begin with various puppet characters praying before
the image of Lord Buddha.

Ritual Dance of the Natkadaw or the Spirit Votaress and the Nats or Spirits
Dances of the Natkadaw (Spirit Votaress) and Nats(spirits) including the Lamaing Nat(Patron Female Spirit of the Theatre) and all the ?powers-that-be? are propitiated with this item in order for the puppeteers to perform a marionette show artistically and free from all disturbances.

Himalaya Forest Scene ( Dance of the Horse )

At the foot of the Himalaya Mountains, there existed the mythical forest of the same name. No human beings except the natural and mythical animals or beings inhabited the forest. The first to appear is the Horse. According to the Myanmar belief, Aswani (Assawani), the constellation of stars shaped like a horse's head, was the first creation of the universe. Hence, the dance of the horse.

Himalaya Forest Scene ( Dance of the Monkeys )
The next animals to appear in the Himalaya Forest Scene are the monkeys in their natural habitat.

Himalaya Forest Scene ( Dance of the Beloos or Demons )
In the next scene, the two demons or Ogres dance to their special tune. The demon with the pointed head-gear is the "royal being" while the other with the plumed-head gear is the forest dweller.

Himalaya Forest Scene ( Dance of the Zawgyee{Sorcerer-cum-alchemist or theurgist )
The Himalaya Forest Scene is drawn to a close by the dance of the Zawgyee (Sorcerer-cum-alchemist or theurgist). He attained supernatural powers by practicing the art of alchemy.
The Zawgyee is endowed with the supernatural powers such as flying through the sky, traveling beneath the earth and the oceans, transforming fruits of a certain type of tree into beautiful maidens with whom he likes to dally, and with his magic wand, causing death to the living and resurrection to the dead. The fruit maidens, after seven days of their existence, just disappear into the thin air.

Dance of the Royal Page Boys
With their perpetually pointed forefingers, the royal page boys announce the arrival of the king and urge the courtiers to occupy their respective places.

Duet Dance of U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe

U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe are the comic characters. They sing, they dance and they flirt, and make the spectators (audience) laugh. No religious procession is considered complete without the dance of U Shwe Yoe and Daw Moe.

Deer chasing dance ( Excerpt from the Ramayana Drama)

In this episode, excerpted from the great epic Ramayana, Rawana (Dasagiri), the ten-headed demon king of Lanka, sends a golden deer to entice Sita. Sita sees the golden deer and implores Rama to capture the animal for her as she wants to keep it as her pet. Rama gives chase to the animal leaving Sita and Lakshman(Lakhana) behind. The golden deer lures Rama into the forest.

Dance of the juggling Cane ball or chin-lone

Myanmar traditional sport of juggling with a cane ball or chin-lone.

Dance of Garland
Dancing of Princes with bunches of flowers.

Dance of juggling small drum
The Juggler balances the drum in different positions while his assistant encourages him.

Group Dance of the Equestrian Princes
In this item, the equestrian princes (Princes on horseback) perform a group dance.

Duet Dance of Male and Female Dancers or the Prince and the Princess
The Myanmar theatre-goers just like the "hna-par-thwar" or duet dance. Sometimes, the clowns or jesters also dance.

The show time: Daily at     12:00 – 13:00 pm
14:00 – 15:00 pm
16:00 – 17:00 pm.

Extra shows, as follow, can be arranged if requested in advance.
17:00 – 18:00 pm
18:00 – 19:00 pm
19:00 – 20:00 pm

Location: Amusement Zone, Kan Taw Mingalar Garden, Shwedagon Pagoda (South Entrance).