Kicking off today, the world's top troupes show off their best moves in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket

International Dance Fest highlights

- Ballet Prague's "Te Deum" by world-renowned Czech choreographers Pavel Smok and Lucy Holankova.

- Chongqing Dance Company's mix of modern and traditional Chinese dance.

- Oplas Theatre (Italy) with "Touch".

- "The Last Silver Crane", a blend of Thai contemporary dance and khon, with Israel's Ido Tadmor and Sri Lanka's percussionist Ravibandhu Vidyapathy along for the ride.

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>> "International Dance Festival 2009" runs for a week from today in Bangkok; from March 18 to 21 at Jungceylon in Phuket; and from March 22 to 25 at Tha Phae Gate Walking Street in Chiang Mai.

>> Participating dancers and choreographers will conduct daily masterclasses at CentralWorld's Dance Centre from March 16 to 20.

>> Tickets for shows at Bangkok's Centerpoint Playhouse (CentralWorld, BTS: Siam Square) and Aksra Theatre (Soi Rang Nam, BTS: Victory Monument) cost between Bt500 and Bt1,500 (Bt250 for students) at www.Thaiticketmajor.com.

>> For more, visit www.Friends-of-the-Arts.info, call 02 259 8861 or e-mail

info@friends-of-the-arts.info.