More than 600 dancers and performing artists from around the world will be featuring art in their own forms in Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Phuket in "International Dance Festival 2009", starting today, until March 25.

Dance performances from 12 countries include the folkloric dance company Reda from Egypt, a Korean Triple Billed Programme, the contemporary dance performance Touch from Italy and Gershwin Fantasy, a concert by versatile US opera singer Janice Martin.

More performances by talented Thai performers and dancers and dance companies from all over the world will be presented to local audiences free of charge. Rare workshops and classes from master teachers from both Thailand and abroad together with exhibitions will be accessible free of charge.

In Bangkok, shows are held at Centrepoint Playhouse on the 8th floor of CentralWorld and Aksara Theatre at the King Power complex. Free performances are provided on the "Young Talented Stage" just opposite the main stage at CentralWorld and at Benjasiri Park today and tomorrow.

Some of the shows, like Touch, Argentine Tango, The Last Silver Crane and Gershwin Fantasy, go to Phuket and Chiang Mai.

Free performances are at Port Jungceylon in Phuket from March 18 to 21 between 6 and 8pm; and at Central Airport Plaza in Chiang Mai on March 21 and 22, from 5 to 7pm.

Tickets are 500, 1,000 and 1,500 baht. Visit http://www.thaiticketmajor.com/ or call 02-262-3456.