Ronnarong Khampha (“Ong”) is a dancer/choreographer from the Lanna region (Northern Thailand, centered on the city of Chiangmai). He studied Lanna Dance since he was young in his village, and graduated with an honors degree in Thai arts from Chiang Mai University in 2005.
Although his background is traditional, Ong is active in contemporary dance. He has developed his own style using traditional dance as the base, venturing into contemporary aesthetics. Ong studied Javanese and Balinese dance in Solo (Surakarta) in Indonesia for two years (2006-08), and uses Indonesian motifs to augment his contemporary work.
From 2001 until now, Ong has performed as percussionist with Changsaton Group, Chiangmai’s leading musical group specializing in traditional and contemporary Lanna music. Ong has performed in Europe, North America, and Asia, with a variety of artists from Thailand, America, Japan, and Indonesia (see list of performances below).
Ong also gives master classes, recently teaching Lanna Dance to international exchange students at Payap University, in Chiangmai (March-April 2010).On 2010 Ong received a grant from Nippon Foundation’s API (Asian Public Intellectuals) Fellowship, to do research in Japan (August 2010 - January 2011) and Indonesia (February - July 2011).
Education
2001 May - 2005 Mar Chiangmai University Graduated with B.F.A. (Bachelor of Fine Arts, Specialty: Thai Art) HONS
Award
2010 Jul - 2011 Jul Received a grant from Nippon Foundation’s API (Asian Public Intellectuals) Fellowship, to do research in Japan (August 2010 - January 2011) and Indonesia (February - July 2011).
2010 Feb Received Asian-Pacific Performance Exchange APPEX 2010 Fellowship
2006 Aug - 2008 Jul Received scholarship from Indonesia’s national Dramasiswa to study traditional Indonesian dance (Javanese and Balinese), at Institut Seni Indonesia (ISI) university in Solo (Surakarta), Indonesia
Employment
2010 October Taught Lanna Traditional Dance for Kyoto Seika student and Public at Kyoto Seika University, Japan (in API 2010 project).
2010 Mar – Apr Taught Lanna Traditional Dance, for Thai and Southeast Asian Studies International Affairs / South East Asian Institute of Global Studies at Payap University, Chiang Mai
2005 – 2006 Curator Assistant , Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi Hotel, Chiang Mai.
2004 – present Instructor of Lanna dance and music, at Origin Asia Program of Traditional Arts (Chiang Mai and Bangkok).Since August 2009, permanent staff of Origin Asia.
2004 - present Musician (Percussion) in Changsaton (Musical group specializing in traditional, northern Thai and contemporary music, Director: Thitipol Kanteewong)
Photo by : Alex Kerr