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Program Dates: Dec. 26, 2024 - Jan. 10, 2025

Application Deadline: Aug. 2, 2024

Deposit Deadline: Aug. 2, 2024

• This program requires a deposit to secure your space on the program.
• The deposit amount is $350.
• You can pay your deposit online here: 
  • Under "Categories" select "Student Travel Deposit: College of the Arts"
  • Under "Items" select "East Meets West Thailand Dance Experience"
  • From there, you can add the item to your cart and complete the payment.

Withdrawal Deadline: Sept. 1, 2024

Program Fee Deadline: The remainder of the program fee will be billed to your ������ student account. The program fee deadline will be in accordance with the Financial, Billing and Enrollment Center's Spring 2025 payment due dates. You should refer to the first Spring 2025 due date.

Course Information

Course Name and CRN: Thailand Dance Experience DAN 47095

Number of Credit Hours: 2

KSU Sponsoring College: College of the Arts

Program Language of Instruction: English

Course Description: Each student will be involved in a self-guided project related to the program and will also participate in group activities including: taking classes from both KSU and SSRU faculty and students, team teaching classes, creating new works of choreography, performing in concerts, and sharing their creative process at research symposiums and conferences.  Individual projects may include: guided student teaching as an individual teacher or in collaboration with another KSU dancer; creation of a documentary film; design of Power Point presentation that documents the program; establishing and maintaining a program blog; collaborating with Kent and SSRU students in order to choreograph works using dancers from both Universities and countries; directing a fund raising campaign; acting as cultural liaison and ambassador representing ������; filling the role of social media correspondent; and creating various presentations for conferences that document research from the course/program.

Pre-Requisites: Introduction to Thai Culture (offered Fall 2024 as a 1 CR course taught by guest faculty Suwatana Rockland

Eligibility

Participation in the Thailand Dance Experience requires:

• That you take the pre-requisite course of Introduction to Thai Culture (offered Fall 2024 as a 1 CR course taught by guest faculty Suwatana Rockland
• An audition (at the Fall Faculty Dance Concert Audition) for dancers
• Completion of the Student Application for the Thailand Dance Experience. You can receive this application by emailing Professor Jeffrey Rockland jrocklan@kent.edu.

Faculty Contact Information

Professor's Name: Jeffrey Marc Rockland

Title: Associate Professor of Dance

Email: jrocklan@kent.edu

Phone: 520-891-0763

This program is designed to take place over Winter Break

Below is a tentative itinerary; however, the exact sequence and sites are subject to changes in availability and cost.

Day 1:

• Travel from Cleveland to Bangkok

Day 2:

• Arrive in Bangkok
• Arrive at SSRU Hotel
• Trip to Emerald Buddha Palace
• Tour SSRU
• Welcome Dinner

Day 3:

• Company class
• Rehearsal
• Afternoon off

Day 4:

• Company class
• Rehearsal
• Afternoon off

Day 5:

• Company class
• Rehearsal
• Afternoon off

Day 6:

• Trip to Ayutthaya
• Floating Market
• Battle of Ayutthaya show
• Talad Num Kwan Raim
• Talad Dockmai (Thai flowers market)
• Night market (Yaowarat)

Day 7:

• Company class
• Rehearsal
• Rehearsal with Thai Students
• Khosan Road or Night Market Radchada

Day 8:

• Body Paints with Khru Peng
• Warm up with KSU Student Teacher
• Rehearse with Thai Students

Day 9:

• Student Class with Student Demonstrator
• Repertoire taught by Kent Student - solo
• KSU and SSRU Dancers rehearse, finish collaborative piece
• Rehearse with Thai Music Ensemble

Day 10:

• Craft in the morning at SSRU
• Rehearsal
• Warm Up/Class
• Preparing for the show
• East Meets West Performance at SSRU

Day 11:

• Go to Hua Hin
• Day at Beach and Pool in Hua Hin
• Evening Break the Ice Games with Hua Hin Students led by KSU Students

Day 12:

• Jazz Dance Class with KSU Students
• Thai Classical Dance Class with SSRU students
• Rehearsals
• Cicada Night Market

Day 13:

• Pool ballet and stretch class
• Nature or beach experience
• Warm up class on stage
• Concert
• Nigh Market

Day 14:

• Go to Bangkok
• Free time in Bangkok

Day 15:

• Check out of hotel
• Return to Cleveland

Bangkok, Thailand​​​​​​​

Known for its street life and cultural landmarks, the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, was just founded in 1972 when two surrounding provinces merged into one, and its current population is approximately 10.7 million people. The city is filled with stunning destinations, including The Grand Palace, the Train Night Market Ratchada, Sao Chingcha, multiple incredible shrines and temples, and a great variety of museums and parks.

Transportation

A group flight and transportation within Thailand is included in the program fee.

Airports

Suvarnabhumi Airport- BKK (Bangkok, Thailand)

Accommodations in Thailand are included in the program fee. Accommodations are in dorm-like hotel settings with shared rooms. Hotels are modest and dancers are expected to adapt their expectations accordingly.

Most meals in Thailand are included in the program fee. Meals are most often eaten as a group, but occasionally meals may be eaten in small groups and paid for individually by each student. “Street food” in Thailand can be quite delicious and inexpensive (less than $3 for lunch). 

Do not drink tap water.  Do drink plenty of bottled water.  Do not get ice in your drinks unless otherwise advised. 

Fruit that has a skin to peel is a better bet than that which needs to be washed.

Professor Rockland is very familiar with Thailand and will help you understand customs including those related to eating etiquette.