KKU Propels Contemporary Dancers to the World Stage at Thailand Choreography Symposium 2026

2 March 2026
16:48

KKCD’s “Morlum Collective” Performance to Tour France, Pioneering Thailand’s First Choreography Curriculum

Khon Kaen University is advancing contemporary performing arts onto the international stage through its participation in the inaugural Thailand Choreography Symposium 2026. The event, held from 21–24 February 2026, was a collaboration between the Department of Cultural Promotion, Ministry of Culture, and the Embassy of France in Thailand, hosted at the Sodsai Pantoomkomol Theatre and Bangkok Kunsthalle.

The symposium was organised under the National Choreography Centre of Thailand (NCCT) project, directed by Jitti Chompee, founder of the Unfolding Kafka Festival. The project aims to build a sustainable arts ecosystem through long-term collaboration among artists, arts institutions, and international networks. Its purpose is to propel Thailand’s contemporary performing arts onto the global stage and to serve as a platform for exchanging knowledge, experience, and creative practices in choreography at both national and international levels.

KKCD: A Model for Integrating Learning onto the World Stage

Associate Professor Dr. Thanatporn Kittikong, Head of the Khon Kaen Choreography Development (KKCD) project, stated that the project has been a pilot programme for over a year. Operating under the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts programme at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Khon Kaen University, it is being jointly supervised by Silpathorn artist Jitti Chompee to develop Thai contemporary dancers and practitioners for the world stage.

Four students—fourth-year students Mr. Supanat Wongchotwanich, Mr. Chakrit Chinchot, and Miss Wanwicha Khiandee, along with third-year student Mr. Kiattisak Boonchaliew—participated in the NCCT project through a Work-Integrated Learning module. This reflects a learning model that clearly connects education with real-world professional practice at an international level.

Associate Professor Dr. Thanatporn also shared Jitti Chompee’s perspective on the programme’s potential, noting that with academic and network support from leading Thai and international artists, “The performing arts programme at Khon Kaen University has the potential to be developed into a distinguished and pioneering choreography curriculum for Thailand.”

Morlum Collective: From Isan Roots to the International Stage

Another major highlight of the event was the contemporary performance “Morlum Collective,” directed by Jitti Chompee and performed by the four KKU performing arts students. The group received a grant from the Contemporary Art Promotion Fund to present their work in May 2026 at the Centre National de la Danse (CND) in Paris and in the city of Lyon, France.

The performance aims to create a learning and practice-based research model for choreography that integrates the cultural roots of Isan folk traditions with contemporary creative processes in an international context. This initiative seeks to cultivate a unique “KKU dancer DNA,” fostering both a distinct identity and global-level capabilities.

Institutional and International Network Collaboration
Throughout the four-day symposium, Associate Professor Dr. Thanatporn Kittikong, alongside Associate Professor Dr. Toranas Hin-on, Associate Dean for Academic Affairs; Assistant Professor Dr. Pongsathorn Yoddamnern; and Ms. Ratchaneekorn Chanthahan, lecturers from the Performing Arts programme, exchanged ideas on curriculum development. They discussed strategies to establish KKCD as Thailand’s first degree programme in choreography. Additionally, Assistant Professor Dr. Arthit Krajangsri, a lecturer from the Folk Music programme, presented a musical experiment that deeply impressed the international artists in attendance.

Building a Global Network and Nurturing a New Generation of Artists

During the event, first-year students Mr. Watcharaphong Suwannaso, Mr. Phuchit Lapsuek, and Miss Pattarawadee Khainunlhai were selected to receive scholarships from the National Choreography Centre of Thailand. They will participate in workshops from 21 February to 10 March 2026 with world-renowned artists, including:

Olivier Dubois, a French choreographer and artistic director
Hiroaki Umeda, a Japanese dancer, choreographer, and multimedia artist
Hillel Kogan, an Israeli choreographer and dancer
Satoshi Kudo, a Japanese dancer and choreographer
Nacera Belaza, an Algerian-French choreographer

This close collaboration with international artists is designed to open new perspectives, broaden creative mindsets, and elevate the skills of Thai students to an international standard.

NCCT x KKCD: Affirming the Potential of Thailand’s Learning Ecosystem

Associate Professor Dr. Thanatporn concluded, “As a key supporter of the NCCT project through our KKCD initiative, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performing Arts programme at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts has created a tangible learning space that connects education, research, and contemporary arts practice. This achievement on the international stage represents more than a success for Khon Kaen University’s students and faculty; it affirms the potential of Thailand’s emerging choreography learning ecosystem, which is now being firmly established.