Dancers flitted across a Parkes Hall room Saturday night in gold-embroidered wraps with orchids in their hair. Students modeled sarongs, suits and bright floral shirts.
Meanwhile, visitors carried plates heaped with pad thai and spicy rice to their chairs and relaxed — until a master of ceremonies said, “If you don’t want your head chopped off, please move back.”
Then two fighters took the stage, swords clashing and sparks flying.
About 100 people got a taste of Thai culture Saturday in Northwestern’s fifth annual Thai Night.
NU’s Thai Club brought folk and classical dancers, musicians and fashion models to the stage while visitors sampled Thai food — or measured their tolerance for hot spices against other contestants.
“We wanted to project our small Thai community — 19 undergrads — and show we can do something like this if we work hard and do it with pride,” said Thai Club President Sasawat Mahabunphachai. “People can pick up a few things about Thai culture: the history of the country, how we greet each other, the way we dress colorfully, how smart and friendly people are. We want them to have a good time.”
Performers from the Thai Cultural and Fine Arts Institute in Burr Ridge, Ill., performed folk and classical music and dances. The troupe, ranging from 5-year-olds to middle-aged performers, tours about 40 times a year in venues across the world, including the Mall of America and the Agricultural University of Thailand.
“People come up to me afterwards and ask more about Thailand,” said dancer Judy Suwatanapongched before the show, as troupe members tied wings to her arms for her bird costume. “It’s really good to see people inspired to think more about Thailand and be entertained, too.”
Suwatanapongched, a junior at Hinsdale South High School, performed a Thai folktale — the story of a bird woman who sacrifices her wings and talons to marry a prince — with small, elegant turns of the wrist and slow swoops of her wings.
“They could be elegant and slow-moving; they could do their self-defense,” she said of the performers. “You see the pretty part and the tough part of our culture.”
Masters of ceremony Worawarit Kobsiriphat and Tom Pothikamjorn tied the show together with comic interludes — dances with light sticks and light sabers that were eventually auctioned off — and bantered with the crowd.
When participants in a hot-spice contest began to turn down more spoonfuls of spices, Kobsiriphat said, “They’re asking for butter with that. What do you think?”
The response: a universal thumbs down.
Competitors took off sweaters and jackets to cool themselves.
Whether they competed, visitors said they enjoyed the food from Siam Square, 622 Davis St., and Thai Sookdee, 810 Church St.
“I like the food better than I thought I would,” said Abby Bruns, a Speech freshman. “It’s a good combination of sweet and meaty.”
Organizers said they wanted to keep the format for next year but vary the lineup of scheduled events. Some students said they missed the games Thai Night has traditionally offered, but they enjoyed the new set of performances.
“It’s more formal than last year, but no one’s uptight or pretentious,” said Speech sophomore Sarah Boscak. “Everyone has a sense of humor.”
Other students said they appreciated the turnout and the enthusiasm.
“I usually see these ethnic-group sorts of things and pass over them because I don’t think they’re going to be that large,” said Speech sophomore Eulynn Shiu, whose roommate performed in the fashion show. “Seeing how much work they put into this really surprises and impresses me.”
