Dances with Coyotes

[GWR]

Naive question, I'm sure. :o Is coyote dancing at Thai festivals (below) at all related to what we see on this YouTube video? This seems to be a progression of the fad for scantily-clad 'presenters' used for sales purposes about two years back. There is some evidence that some university students used this as a way to pay for their education, with the 'presentations' also bringing in 'private customers'.

Dancing girls at Pub "Coyote Ugly"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTDJnVK0D2A

Call to keep Loy Krathong free of coyote dancing

Authorities yesterday warned organisers against including sexually suggestive dances in events to celebrate the upcoming Loy Krathong Festival.

"The Loy Krathong Festival is a beautiful part of Thai culture. We hope all relevant parties will hold appropriate activities for this festival," Culture Ministry acting permanent secretary Veera Rojanapojanarat said.

He was referring to ongoing moves to stop scantily clad young women from dancing erotically in public places. Widely dubbed "coyote dancing", this sexually suggestive dancing began in pubs but

has recently spread to public events.

According to Veera, provincial culture officers have been instructed to work closely with local administrative bodies to ensure that no damage was done to the country's culture.

Religious Affairs Department director-general Preecha Kanthiya said the "coyote dances" could be counted as offences against the National Culture Act of BE2485.

"Such dances are against our culture and tradition," he said.

He also called on all relevant parties to heed Her Majesty the Queen's concerns over the fact that some women danced inappropriately at a Buddhist charity event in Nong Khai province.

After Her Majesty's concern was relayed via the Culture Ministry, several authorities proposed measures to discourage such dancing shows.

"Please refrain from any activity that will harm society," Preecha said.

National Culture Commission secretary-general Prisana Pongtadsirikul yesterday said organisers of activities should ensure that performers act and dress appropriately.

"There should be no 'coyote dancing'. For traditional dances, organisers should also ensure that dancers do not wear too-short skirts and do not perform any erotic moves," she said.

Meanwhile, Wuthinan Tosuk-hawong, who chairs Srinakharin-wirot University's Student Council, said coyote dancing clearly aroused sexual desire.

"Business entrepreneurs can't claim that these dances are just for fun or have artistic value," the fourth-year university student said.

Wuthinan, 22, supported the idea that educational institutes should deploy measures to bar students from working as coyote dancers.

"There are many jobs out there for students who want to work. These jobs are not as easy as such dancing jobs, though," he said.

He said if young women embraced "coyote dancing" jobs, they would become reluctant to work hard.


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/03/national/national_30017931.php

[GWR]

Young dancing girls a dilemma for Culture

A proposed regulation to ban women aged younger than 20 working as so-called "coyote dancers" is attracting fire for alleged violation of workers' rights.

Culture Minister Khunying Khaisri Sriaroon yesterday vowed to resolve the issue of young women promoting products or entertaining at public events "dressed in skimpy outfits and moving erotically".

She said she was exploring legal avenues to restrict the practice.

Her Majesty the Queen recently expressed concern at television coverage of young women dancing at a Buddhist charity event at Nong Khai.

The ministry wants a regulation to stop women under 20 from working as product presenters and dancers at public events. Khaisri is due to meet officials, employers and the media on November 8 to find solutions.

The ministry's Cultural Monitoring Centre was investigating.

Meanwhile, Labour Protection and Welfare Department chief Padungsak Thephasdin na Ayutthaya said prohibiting under-20s from working as dancers was against labour rights. He said women aged around 20 were mature and had a right to work where and at what they wished.

He said event organisers should do their homework before sending dancers to events or locations to ensure it was appropriate for them to appear. The dancers themselves could use their own discretion and cultural knowledge to determine if what they were doing was tasteful.

The law already provides regulations restricting young people from certain work - in the sex trade for example.

However, he admitted the "coyote" issue was difficult. There was little information about employer-employee patterns. The department was working on the problem so the industry could be controlled and penalties for rule breaches imposed.

Education Minister Wijit Srisaan warned the Culture Ministry to proceed with caution. Regulations had to be workable and individual rights protected.

"This is not an issue like drinking alcohol. If anyone dances in public in a lewd manner it would be inappropriate regardless of age," he argued.

Wijit said the Education Ministry already had guidelines governing student conduct, and improper behaviour resulted in disciplinary action.

Meanwhile, Interior Ministry permanent secretary Pongpayom Wasaputi informed provincial governors of Her Majesty's concerns and sought their help in preventing future inappropriate performances, especially at Buddhist sites and public events.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/01/national/national_30017653.php

[GWR]

This reminds of those stories (myths?) that the regime of Police General Sarit Dhanarajata actively encouraged performances by scantily-clad erotic dancers in NE temples, if only for its own amusement.

This uneasy tension between public piety and private luxury never ceases to fascinate me. I do actually think that it is sensible to be concerned about this phenomenon, but perhaps the real issue is that big business & influence continues to look on the labor force as something to be exploited. It often seems they believe that there is no connection between morality and business/politics. In fairness, there does seem to be some sense in these reports that there are quite a range of issues involved; that definitely go beyond just flat-out disapproval.

[jpatokal]

Some immortal words on the topic (http://www.singapore-window.org/sw02/021004sc.htm) from Singapore's Minister of State, Vivian Balakrishnan:

"I also want all us to be aware that there is a price to be paid for liberty," he said.

"If you want to dance on the bar top, some of us will fall off that bar top. Some will die as a result. Usually it is a girl with a short skirt who's dancing on it, who may attract some insults from other men. The boyfriend starts fighting. Some people will die. Blood will be shed for liberalising the policy."

:eek: :D

[GWR]

VENUS'S VISION
So, who wants to be a coyote girl anyway?

If you surveyed young women around the country and asked them for their choices of career, the so-called "coyote dancer" wouldn't make it into the top 10, or even the top 20.

Dancing erotically in skimpy outfits in front of men is by no means the job of a woman's dreams.

Many students become coyote dancers to finance their studies. Some are fortunate enough to carry on their education while a few become university drop-outs thanks to their part-time dancing work.

Like other employees, they are working legally. They believe dancing, even in front of drunken men, is far better than selling their bodies, but deep in their hearts they know that this is not their career and they prefer not to talk openly about it.

Despite unfavourable work conditions, the number of coyote girls is growing. As they become a favourite entertainment at various events, their performances have extended from nightclubs to temple grounds. They are increasingly visible, and society is getting worried.

Following HM the Queen's recent concern about sexy dancing at a Buddhist event in Nong Khai province, Thai authorities are now seriously looking into ways to curb the sky-rocketting growth of coyote dancers. The Interior Ministry has already asked provincial governors to curb inappropriate performances, especially at Buddhist sites and public events.

Every now and then, Thai society appears to fall into a period of moral panic. We've experienced it before - teen sex, Internet chat sites, under-age night owls and violent computer games. This time round it is the invasion of the coyote girls. The police, too, respond to the panic. This year, apart from their usual Loy Krathong routine of checking on the sexual behaviour of youngsters, they have instituted checks for undesirable dancing.

Many restrictions may have the effect of making coyote dancing fade from fashion. The Culture Ministry has proposed a restriction banning those under 20 from working as coyote girls and stopping all such performances in some places.

Coming to the rescue of the coyote girls are a few officials who look at the picture in a broader perspective. Fortunately not all officials are suffering from this moral panic. Labour Production and Welfare Department Chief Padungsak Thephasdin na Ayutthaya and Education Minister Wijit Srisa-an have expressed concern on the rights issue: the age restriction could be a breach of the right to work, they say.

The education minister said: "A lewd dance is a lewd dance, regardless of age." In other words, the lewdness of the dance should not be the basis of discrimination.

The Culture Ministry may think the restrictions on ages and venues are the right medicine for the increasing number of coyote girls, but they may be hitting where it doesn't hurt. If a coyote-dance troupe performs at an inappropriate place, it is the organiser who should be blamed. This would make everyone aware of cultural sensitivity rather than singling out the dancers. For they are just employees, and whenever or wherever they are employed, they will do their job. As to whether or not their bodily movements are in good cultural taste, we can again point the finger of responsibility at their employers.

It is about time that policy-makers looked at possible "threats" to our norms and values in a broader perspective instead of panicking. The Religious Department can ask all Buddhist temples to avoid inappropriate performances. The coyote dancers are just a tiny part of the overall problem, and the tip of the problem at that, not its root. The policy-makers should go back and try to answer all the basic questions. What is the target audience of coyote dancers? Why has coyote dancing become popular?

They may also find out why, if it is not a dream job, girls take it."

More importantly, after gathering the information, they should find out whether the dancing is the thing we should be panicking about. Does society really collapse because of dancing girls?

Veena Thoopkrajae


http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2006/11/04/opinion/opinion_30018025.php

[Jromerz]

Maybe we can just say its another avenue for people to make a lot of money in a short time.
It is a clash between what "Thai Culture" should be, and what is actually happening right now in the young adult society. Yes, shocking news does occasionally pop up regarding the negative trends in youth culture.. But there is a constant denial of the reality of this generation, misconceptions.. The past 5 years or so have seen these aspects coming more to the surface, with young people becoming more confident (or defiant) when it comes to the moral codes of our elders. Doesn't it make sense though, the more you try to make people fit into your mold, the more extreme the reaction will be when there is the chance for them to break out of it.
With this type of dancing, its just bringing to the mainstream what has already been happening underground for some time, and it is very difficult for some to understand and/or come to terms with what is going on....

[GWR]

Note that governmental authorities have been instrumental in organizing events at which such dances take place. Since the Gen. Sarit era, some authorities have show a certain lack of discretion in organising such events at temples. They may have their place in society, but temples are probably not it: -

Coyotes' last dance

Ayutthaya authorities and the provincial culture office have eliminated "coyote dancers" from commercial promotions and events.

Provincial culture office chief Niphon Thoopboocha said the agreement was vital to the tourism industry. The province is home to many historic sites and World Heritage locations. Business owners and event organisers had cooperated, he said.

Girls dancing in provocative outfits had become widespread in Ayutthaya. The office took action after several complaints, especially over dancing at marketplaces.

The Culture Ministry's Cultural Watchdog Centre director Ladda Tangsupachai said it had registered 1,341 young dancers. Most had obtained work.

Coyote dancing all but evaporated on holy days and at temples after a campaign late last year.

Buri Ram, Loei, Phetchaburi, Ubon Ratchathani, Kamphaeng Phet, Chiang Rai, Trat, Lamphun, Chon Buri and Uttaradit are now coyote dance-free.

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2007/02/19/national/national_30027222.php

[GWR]

14 April 2007
Coyote dancers arrested at temple in Chiang Mai
Police arrested the coyote dancers who performed a show at Sai Moon Temple in Muang district of Chiang Mai province

The coyote dance at the temple came to an abrupt end after a good citizen reported the unsuitable incident to the local police. The dancers were ladies wearing little clothes and dancing in an arousing manner. The performance was considered inappropriate to be shown in temples, and police had to bring it to an end quickly.

Police said the organizer of this coyote dance was a local bar operator who only wanted to entertain the crowd. Police issued a warning and released the bar operator and the coyote dancers consequently.

http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/previewnews.php?news_id=255004140019