Choreography of The Dance: Phralak-tad-sor-sida

Abstract

The choreography of Phralak-Tad-Sor-Nang-Sida was studied as an art form. Information was gleaned from books, documents and interviews with specialists in Thai classical dance and Thai music to createa conceptual framework of creative art. Observations from interviews and focus groups of specialists were compiled as the research results. A descriptive analysis identified the concepts of the creative dance performance as combinations of postures. These include Phralak executing Sida by cutting her neck following Phra Rama’s command in the Ramakien epic. The concept of design involves a Krabi-krabong (swordplay performance) according to traditional Thai dance, consisting of the Mae Bot Yai song and Pleng-Char-Pleng-Raew (elementary dance following the pace of slow to fast tempo), Cherd-Ching song and dancing with lyrics and tunes using weapons. There are 166 different Thai postures and the performer must be skilled in Phra Rama dancing. A female actor must have skills of emotional expression to perform the elegant character of Lakorn Nang. The Khon Rong Nai performance is divided into three parts. In part I, Phralak leads Sida to death row, part II involves the steps of Sida’s execution by cutting off her head, while in Part III, Sida is acquitted and Phralak learns the truth. The script used in this performance follows the royal composition of the Ramakien epic in King Rama I period arranged as a poem. In addition, packing song followed the meaning of songs in order to conform with the script and had the narrations-negotiations following the Khon performance model. The Thai music ensemble used in the performance follows Wong Pi Phat Khrueang Khu with the Pi Nai solo, while the steps of Sida’s execution follow traditional methods. Phralak’s costume is a Khon Phra outfit of yellow with purple; he wears a Thai theatrical crown (male character), while Sida’s costume as a female character is red with green. She also wears a Thai theatrical crown (female character). As additional materials, Phralak has a Phra Khan (weapon) and Sida wears a garland as Krong-Khor (embroidery neck costume).