Why switch to contemporary dance?
Actually, I’m still dancing both traditional Thai and contemporary styles. The thing is, after I got to watch contemporary dance shows, it kind of drew me in and I realized, this is it. This is what I want to do. I was off to a stumbling start, doing contemporary dance here and there. Then I got my first change to works with Jitti in a contemporary dance show called 18 Crowns.

Your prior work was quite difficult to understand.
As a dancer I’m positive that each kind of artwork has its own charm and you don’t have to understand everything. Nowadays, we have a bunch of stuff that’s easy on the eyes, so why not try something different. Our show tries to encourage people to think out of the box, move out of their comfort zone and see their world from a different perspective.

Contemporary dance doesn’t seem to attract a lot of people, though.
People don’t go to shows because they don’t know that we have one. For example, shows at the Thailand Cultural Center have large audiences because everybody has heard of them. Thailand needs to have ways to broadcast art news whether it’s public or private. It’ll help tremendously. Another thing is that to watch a contemporary show you have to be open-minded and accept that you’ll be challenged by it—don’t just be offended. I think that’s why contemporary shows are more popular in Western society.

Would you ever like to produce or choreograph your own stuff?
To be a good producer you need to have lots and lots of experience. I did a few of my own shows actually but I think I need more experience, so for now, I would say I’m a good performer. Maybe in five years, when I’ve gained more experience, I’ll do my own show.

How do you feel about this performance?
I’m concerned. Happy, yeah, but concerned because it is the first time that I’ll be acting without a mask. I’ve never done it before so it’s quite tough. But it’s good, too, because it gives the show a different dynamic, like theater. And then there’s my body. In a contemporary dance show, you need to have a very firm body on stage—it just looks more fascinating. So I need to lose some more weight! It’s never been a problem with khon where we wear all these beautiful clothes. Proudpisut Sang-ou-thai