Pichet Klunchun bridges traditional Thai Classical Dance language with contemporary sensibility, while keeping the heart and wisdom of the convention. He trained in Thai Classical Mask Dance, Khon, from age 16 with Chaiyot Khummanee, one of the best Khon masters in Thailand.
After receiving his degree in Thai Classical Dance at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, he pursued theatre both as dancer and choreographer at high-profile occasions, such as the opening and closing ceremonies of Asian Games in Bangkok in 1998. Subsequently, he also worked with contemporary dance.
He is the only artist in his class to continue dance as a career today, and has earned domestic notoriety for his efforts in contemporising Khon. He has participated lately in several intercultural performing arts programs as a Thai representative and as an international dancer-choreographer in North America, Asia and Europe.
On December 9, 2008, he received ‘Routes' ECF Princess Margriet Award for Cultural Diversity from European Cultural Foundation. The purpose of the award is to honor artists and thinkers in the field of cultural diversity for helping to combat fear and disrespect of ‘the other'. The Award is an initiative of the ECF in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, and the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, generously supported by the Association of Charity Lotteries in the European Union (ACLEU) and the Rabobank.
In 2012, Pichet has recently received another award from the French Ministry of Culture 'Chevalier of the French Arts and Literature Order' for his contribution to the influence of Culture in France, in Thailand and all over the world.
In April 2014, Pichet was recently awarded the John D. Rockefeller 3rd Award by the Asian Cultural Council which is the award given to an individual from Asia or the United States who has made a significant contribution to the international understanding, practice, or study of the visual or performing arts of Asia. This award for outstanding professional achievement commemorates the deep and long standing interest of John D. Rockefeller 3rd in Asian art and culture and given to individuals active in their field.