Youths showcase Lao culture in ship programme

The Lao People's Revolutionary Youth Union held a performance last week by a group of young Lao cultural representatives who are to join the Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme in Japan on October 21.

Traditional Khaen dancing.

The performance by the 29 young people at the National Culture Hall included traditional dances and games for each region of Laos .

The ship programme aims to encourage friendship and understanding amongst the youth of Japan and ASEAN countries.

“We are so proud to present our show to the public before we join the programme, it has been several months in the making,” said Deputy Director of the Noumlao Mass Media Department of the youth union, Ms Douangsaly Sivilay, who directed the event.

“This will be the 34 th such event in Japan , and will be attended by young people from 10 Asean countries, who will meet to discuss their respective cultures. Laos became a member of the programme in 1998, our young people have benefited a great deal from this programme and enriched their lives,” she said.

The event began with a surprise procession in which the group walked and sung their way through the auditorium and onto the stage.

This was followed by a video presentation by each member, each of which was shot at a different tourist site in Vientiane , including That Luang stupa, the Patouxay monument, Vat Siangkhuan ( Buddha Park ) and Horphakeo, through which other participants in the programme will learn about the historic sites of the Lao capital.

This was followed by traditional dances and games from throughout the country showcasing the wealth of Lao culture across diverse ethnic groups.

The event included performances by artists from Lao Art Media and Indee Records who were former participants in the programme.

A display of Muay Lai Lao (Traditional Lao boxing) also featured in the event to demonstrate the Lao martial arts style.

The culture hall audience was also entertained with a mishmash of traditional and contemporary dances by Lao Bangfai Breakdancing Club.

The Ship for Southeast Asian Youth Programme started in January 1974 with an agreement between Japan and the five ASEAN countries of Indonesia , Malaysia , Philippines , Singapore and Thailand . Brunei Darussalam joined in 1985, Vietnam in 1996 while Laos and Myanmar joined in 1998. Cambodia joined the programme in 2000.

The 2007 programme is scheduled to run from October 22 to December 12. During this period, the group will visit Japan and five of the ten ASEAN countries; Singapore , Indonesia , Malaysia , Vietnam and Laos .

By PHOONSAB THEVONGSA
(Latest Update October 15, 2007)