Our top picks for Bangkok's International Music and Dance Festival

The six-week Bangkok International Music and Dance Festival features 16 different acts.

Relief for Bangkok’s hungry -- ok, starving -- community of cultural aficionados comes on Monday with the start of the six-week Bangkok International Music and Dance Festival.

La Traviata, performed by Russia’s Ekaterinburg Opera Theatre, kicks off things -- the first of 22 performances by 16 different acts in the festival.

Unlike most Bangkok events that dub themselves "global" but feature little more than a few regional Asian acts, this festival has an impressive selection of ballet, operas, symphanies and modern dance, among others. Everything will take place at the Thailand Cultural Center (MRT: Thailand Cultural Center).

The entire roster of events is world-class and worth checking out, but here are our top picks: 

Punarnava: The world premiere of "Kathak Anew, Classical Dances of India," performed by India’s Kathak Kendra

Moon Water: Contemporary dance performed by Taiwan’s Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

Carmina Burana: A contemporary ballet performed by Spellbound Dance Company, Italy

Fuego!: Performed by Carmen Mota’s Flamenco Dance Group of Spain

Madame Butterfly: An opera in three acts by Russia’s Ekaterinburg Opera Theatre

Cinderella on Ice: Performed by the UK’s Imperial Ice Stars

Alright, we admit that last one looks slightly out of place but come on, it's Bangkok. How often do we get to watch professional ice skaters in action? 

The Bangkok Post has an in-depth look at three of the festival's modern dance acts in Tuesday's edition.

For the full festival schedule and tickets, visit Thaiticketmaster.com.