Farang impresses Thais with traditional dance

It’s a rare sight when a foreigner is a part of a local Thai tradition, especially when it is not one of the widely celebrated ones like Songkran or Loy Kratong. So it was surprising when last Thursday, a foreign man, colloquially called a farang, performed a traditional dance that ended up impressing Thais nationwide.

Here’s the lowdown on how his moves got Thai people excited for all the right reasons.

More news in Thailand:

Farang attends Esaan festival and showcases dance moves

At the Sen Donta Festival in Si Sa Ket province on the 22nd of September 2022, a Farang’s impressive traditional dance moves was capture on video, courtesy of TikTok user @ryansdiary.

For context, the festival is typically celebrated by ethnic Khmers and is held to pay respects to our ancestors. Si Sa Ket, located in the Esaan region, shares a border with Cambodia which is why their people celebrate the festival as well.

Screenshot: @ryansdiary

In any case, the man’s performance was very passionate. As a result, his intensity captured Thai citizens’ attention as the clip went viral on TikTok with close to a million views at the time of writing.

Thais praise the dance and appreciate his passion

Many Thais praised his performance in the comments, sharing that they admired his appreciation and passion for local culture.

Screenshot: @jiimiiko

Translation: He nailed every move. Very cute.

Screenshot: @ryansdiary

Translation: His mannerism is on point.

Others paid tribute to his attention to details and how he “nailed” every move and captured the mannerism required.

Culture draws people in and unites them

We think it’s heartwarming to see people try, and even embrace, other cultures. But we must still be careful in doing so. Like with personal relationships, we cannot force our way into a culture. We must do so with utmost care and consideration.

When it is done right, however, it will be a life-changing experience. That’s also when culture becomes more than just a way to distinguish groups of people. Culture can bring people together in a way that makes us appreciate each other even more.

Cover images adapted from (Clockwise from Top Left): @jiimiiko

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