The Study of Dance for Local Knowledge Development: A Case Study of Fon-Dab and Shan Community Life Mae Hong Son Province

Abstract

The purposes of this research are to study the style of sword dance show and local community way of life with the social context of Tai Yai people in Khun Yuam, Mae Hong Son. The population and the samples of the research were selected with purposive sampling for interviewing which consisted of one Ethnographical history scholar, one Local philosopher, one Local dance expert, one Sword dance successor, one Religious ceremony officiant of Khun Yuam Community, and one President of Cultural Council Mae Hong Son Province. The research instrument was a structured interview and created correlatively with the research objectives. The result found out that types of the show sword dance of Tai Yai people in Khun Yuam and Mae Hong Son are divided into 2 types which are 1) Kalai, the aggressive martial arts, is not gentle. There are 5 walking steps which is called Laifun, and 2) Laika, developed from Kalai which gentle and beautiful dancing, has the position called Laiforn which is a sword dance nowadays. It has been changed roles and responsibility as the change of social contexts, which are 1) Belief and local way of life, which conveys from Buddhist teaching in the seasonal tradition of the community, and 2) Changing as the norm in important place and time in welcoming guests as well as celebrating auspicious events and studying of community