On Saturday April 19, Chiang Mai made history after hosting the biggest Thai dance in the world. And yes, Guinness World Records was there to make it official.
Over 10,000 dancers participated in a mass ‘fon leb’ dance, a Lanna performance featuring shimmering brass fingernails and graceful hand movements to the tinny sounds of traditional instruments.
Officially only 7,218 dancers were recorded as taking part, twirling their way around the city moat and deep into the heart of the Old City. However, according to organisers and unofficial head counts, the real number was closer to 20,000 – a sea of swirling skirts and flashing fingertips, staged in celebration of Chiang Mai’s 729th anniversary.
The dance, performed in the style of Princess Dara Rasmi, a royal consort of King Chulalongkorn (also known as King Rama V), was a spectacle like no other the city has ever seen, with thousands of onlookers lining the streets to see performers donning traditional dress and moving in unison to choreography that had to be spot-on – Guinness doesn’t mess around.
‘Thailand is wonderful, and the people should be proud that they have another Guinness World Record title under their belt,’ said Sonia Ushirogochi, the official Guinness adjudicator on-site, who confirmed the record after recounting three times.
However, no attempt goes without issue. Waranya Lertworakitpipat, head of the Women’s Association of Chiang Mai said that the true number of dancers was much higher, but due to the strict rules and criteria of both the Guinness World Records and municipal authorities, only 7,218 were counted.
Rules included dancing to the approved choreography, only dancing after the signal, stopping immediately after the end signal and wearing the correct traditional dress. Sadly, some reports of groups being turned away for having the wrong patterned dress have surfaced since the event, further reducing the possible number of officially recorded dancers.
Despite this, cultural officials, including Minister of Culture Sudawan Wangsuphakijkosol and Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn both applauded the success on their official channels and in-person at the event.
Jakkaphon Tangsutthitham, Vice Minister for Tourism and Sports also attended, saying in an interview that ‘as I am originally from Chiang Mai, it is a very big day for us and I am very proud.’
The city now officially holds the Guinness World Record for ‘The Largest Thai Dance’, beating the previous record of 5,255 dancers.