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Dan Sai village, Loei Province, Thailand

It didn’t take us long to become a part of the festival. Once the masks were tossed aside, we saw the warm smiles of the locals as they accepted us into their dance spaces. While some hands glided peacefully through the misty air, others poured shot upon shot of foul alcohol, an unknown substance that seemed to go down easier as the afternoon crept into evening. I am not sure if it was just the buzz from the bottle, but these men were locked into one hell of a spiritual groove.

SBR

 

Dan Sai village, Loei Province, Thailand

The festivities soon focused around the main temple, where the older villagers had already turned the slick, muddy ground into a hopping dance floor. They were quick to welcome us and our cameras. The women had a lovely, quiet way of dancing to the fast-paced music, stepping in place while delicately moving their hands to the melody. When I wasn't shooting them,I imitated their movements, much to their delight.

LS