Tigaraya Pattani, The Choreography

Abstract

The Choreography named Tigaraya Pattani is a part of the thesis for fourth-year students in the performing arts department of the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Suan Sunandha Rajabhat University, Thailand. The goal is to create and design dance performances that are a result of creative research. The students use the concepts and theories of choreographic creation combined with dance practice and analyze the collected data to create a dance performance.

The research showed that the Patani Kingdom was governed by three distinct kings named Rayahiyao, Rayabiru, and Rayaungu. Each of these rulers had a unique identity and was responsible for leading the Patani Kingdom to its most distinguished period of prosperity during the Lankasuka era. Tigaraya Pattani was inspired by this history and comprises seven crucial elements: (1) concept, (2) performers, (3) songwriting, (4) choreography, (5) costume design, (6) space design, and  (7) props. This performance is unique in its use of Mayong gestures and its music, a Patani royal dance combined with the dance style of the lower southern region of Thailand, presented as traditional, creative southern dance. Tigaraya Pattani is a series of performances with educational benefits, especially in creating dance works to honour ancestors. This performance encourages awareness among the local youth about the significance of the history of indigenous people. The lifestyle of the local area is expressed in various forms, including beliefs, way of life, dress, arts, and culture, which are valuable cultural heritages and should be taken care of well to avoid fading from people’s memory.