DANCE PRACTICE SKILLS INSTRUCTION FOR RABAM MATRATHAN : LESSON LEARNED FROM THE NATIONAL ARTISTS Dance Practice Skills Instruction for Rabam Matrathan: Lesson Learned from The National Artists

Abstract

This study examined pedagogical practices in teaching Rabam Matrathan through lesson extraction from Thai National Artists in the field of performing arts. The study aimed to investigate how dance practice skills are transmitted within Thai classical dance education and to conceptualize the instructional processes embedded in traditional dance pedagogy. A qualitative research approach was employed. Data were collected from four National Artists through in-depth interviews and participant observation and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that instruction in Rabam Matrathan is not merely the transmission of dance movements according to traditional conventions, but a systematic process of embodied and experiential learning. Four major pedagogical components were identified: 1) essential fundamental knowledge, 2) encouragement and motivation, 3) systematic instructional procedures, and 4) various teaching techniques. The instructional process emphasized demonstration, physical guidance, repetitive practice, rhythmic control, and metaphorical explanation as central mechanisms for skill development and knowledge transmission. The findings further suggest that Thai classical dance instruction reflects principles of embodied pedagogy, tacit knowledge transmission, and performing arts education, in which learning occurs through bodily practice, close teacher–student interaction, and experiential engagement. This study contributes to the field of Thai Classical Dance Pedagogy by conceptualizing traditional Thai dance instruction as a systematic pedagogical process rather than merely a form of cultural preservation.