At its purest, Thai classical dancing is represented by the Khon, a masked drama of extreame ritualistic beauty derived from Indian temple dancing via the courts of Angkor. The storyline is based on the Ramayana. Each step and gesture of the dance has a distinct meaning coloured and enchanced by the accompanying music. As the masks make it difficult for the actors to speak, the vocal chorus provides a narrative.

The masks indicate the characters' identities and are an art form in themselves, crafted from papier mache and embellished with gold, lacquer and paste jewels. Likewise the customes are highly ornate resembling the apparel of royalty and divine being in mural painting. The colour of garment identifies the character. The hero Phra Ram is dressed in deep green, and the monkey god Hanuman wear white.

Less formal is the Lakhon dance drama in which the artists playing human characters do not wear masks though those playing gods often do. Narratives are drawn from the THai version of the Ramayana known as the Ramakien as well as the Buddhist Jataka stories which chroniclae the eary lives of the Buddha . Costumes are similar to the Khon but the movements are more fluid and less stylized, with expression centered the graceful upheld arms, and expecially in the hands, with curved back fingers reminiscent of the mudra, a gesture symbolizing a specific action or power.

There are many brances of the Lakhon a word simply meaning play or drama. The simplest in form is the Lakhon Chatri which is often seen at sacred sites such as the Erewan shrine where the dancers are hired by supplicants wishing to thank or appease the spirits.

Lakhon Nai, meaning the inner Lakhon was originally performed by the ladies of the court. Lakhon Nok, or outside Lalhon, was the popular form and grew into the celebrated burelsque folk theatre know as likay. The risque likay is a combination of pantomine, satire and opera, is hugely popular at temple fairs and such occasions.

In the south shadow plays know as Nang Talung are popular. Figures are cut out of Buffalo hide and are manipulated against a white screen to a narrative commentary..