In Morlam Collective, artistic director Jitti Chompee continues his exploration of movement, trance, and the transformative power of folk performance by reimagining Morlam—the deeply rooted musical and performative tradition of Northeastern Thailand (Isaan)—through a contemporary choreographic lens.

The work traces the evolution of Morlam music: from its origins as therapeutic and ritual sound, to its development into Morlam Luk Thung—a self-sustaining folk art form capable of supporting livelihoods and evolving professionally within both local communities and international stages. This trajectory reveals a layered dialogue across time, culture, and performance economies.

Expanding his choreographic research, Jitti collaborates with the Khon Kaen Choreography Development (KKCD) collective to construct a new performance framework. Here, Morlam becomes choreographic material—its rhythms, vocal intonations, breath patterns, and performative gestures are deconstructed and reassembled through contemporary dance methodology.

The result is a physical dialogue between tradition and transformation, where folk knowledge and contemporary bodies coexist within an ever-evolving process of reinvention.

Morlam Collective embodies Jitti’s vision of a living archive—a performance that listens to the past while improvising toward the future. It positions Morlam not as a relic of cultural heritage, but as a dynamic and adaptive force within the contemporary performance landscape.