8-year-old Ally practices her solo dance in the hall of her dance school in central Bangkok. She has been learning Ram Thai for the last three years.

8-year-old Ally practices her solo dance in the hall of her dance school in central Bangkok. She has been learning Ram Thai for the last three years.

Ally sneaks a peek at her peers as the dancing troupe warm-up at the start of their practice session. Ally attends an extra-curricular dance school in central Bangkok.

Ally sneaks a peek at her peers as the dancing troupe warm-up at the start of their practice session. Ally attends an extra-curricular dance school in central Bangkok.

A teacher corrects Ally's posture as she and her fellow performers warm up for a practice session.

A teacher corrects Ally's posture as she and her fellow performers warm up for a practice session.

Ally's mother applies make-up to ready Ally for a performance later that evening in central Bangkok.

Ally's mother applies make-up to ready Ally for a performance later that evening in central Bangkok.

The dance students and their mothers apply make-up and false eyelashes to ready them for a performance later that evening in central Bangkok. Behind them, other students continue to practice.

The dance students and their mothers apply make-up and false eyelashes to ready them for a performance later that evening in central Bangkok. Behind them, other students continue to practice.

Dance students at Ally's school are pinned into their outfits ahead of their performance.

Dance students at Ally's school are pinned into their outfits ahead of their performance.

Ally and one of her best friends from dance school, 12-year-old Bright, break for lunch at a noodle stall. The pair attend dance school every weekend.

Ally and one of her best friends from dance school, 12-year-old Bright, break for lunch at a noodle stall. The pair attend dance school every weekend.

At their home in the lounge area, Ally's mother fits Ally into her performance outfit.

At their home in the lounge area, Ally's mother fits Ally into her performance outfit.

As Ally's mother pins a brooch onto her outfit, Ally practices her hand gestures for her dance performance later that evening.

As Ally's mother pins a brooch onto her outfit, Ally practices her hand gestures for her dance performance later that evening.

Ally and Bright play online games of Bright's phone as they head to Lumpini Park on the MRT in central Bangkok.

Ally and Bright play online games of Bright's phone as they head to Lumpini Park on the MRT in central Bangkok.

Ally and Bright run up the stairs in a bid to beat their parents to the top once they arrive at Lumpini Park MRT station in central Bangkok.

Ally and Bright run up the stairs in a bid to beat their parents to the top once they arrive at Lumpini Park MRT station in central Bangkok.

Ally, Bright, and Ally's parents cross the road in central Bangkok, heading towards Lumpini Park where their performance is set to take place that evening.

Ally, Bright, and Ally's parents cross the road in central Bangkok, heading towards Lumpini Park where their performance is set to take place that evening.

Ally, Bright, and another dancer pose for a picture taken by Ally's mum at Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ally, Bright, and another dancer pose for a picture taken by Ally's mum at Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ally shows her fellow dancers the hand gestures she has been practicing, 30-minutes before the troupe are due on stage in Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ally shows her fellow dancers the hand gestures she has been practicing, 30-minutes before the troupe are due on stage in Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Parents and audience members record and take photos of Ally's dancing troupe at Lumpini Park. Ally, centre front, leads them.

Parents and audience members record and take photos of Ally's dancing troupe at Lumpini Park. Ally, centre front, leads them.

Ally and her fellow dancers perform Ram Thai on stage in Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ally and her fellow dancers perform Ram Thai on stage in Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ally runs up to her mother to chatter excitedly about the experience immediately after her performance ends, surrounded by her dance troupe at Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ally runs up to her mother to chatter excitedly about the experience immediately after her performance ends, surrounded by her dance troupe at Lumpini Park, Bangkok.

Ram Thai Tiny Dancer

In Lumpini Park in the heart of Bangkok, 8-year-old Ram Thai dancer Ally moves gracefully on stage, a performance smile on her face. Ram Thai is a traditional folk dance that is known for its graceful movements and precise hand gestures, often performed at festivals, ceremonies, and cultural events. Thailand’s rapid modernisation has sparked a renewed interest in traditional arts like Ram Thai, with parents encouraging children to embrace their cultural roots. Against the backdrop of skyscrapers and bustling streets, traditional arts are evolving, not fading, with parents like Ally’s keen to tear their children away from iPads and online games. Shot for Die Zeit.