THE CREATION OF A DANCE “NATHALEELA BUJA PHRAPATHOM”

Abstract

         This research aims to study the historical background of the festival of worshiping Phra Pathom Chedi and to create a dance, “Nathaleela Buja Phrapathom”. The research was conducted by using qualitative approach. The findings revealed that 1), for the study of the historical background of the festival of worshiping Phra Pathom Chedi, this was an ancient tradition which had been long inherited since the reign of King Rama IV. It is considered as the annual festival to which Nakhon Pathom people give importance.
2) To create a dance, “Nathaleela Buja Phrapathom” by relying on eight creative principles, it was found that the important identity to create a dance was to represent the homage to the image of Phra Pathom Chedi and to preserve this festival of Nakhon Pathom province. The researcher divided the performance into two phases. The first phase began with the graceful dance to worship Phra Pathom Chedi by conveying the emotion of faith. The second phase exhibited the celebration in the festival of worshiping Phra Pathom Chedi by conveying the emotion of happiness and joy through the choreography in Thai dance. In addition, the performance possessed some artwork of Dvaravati period which was blended into various components of the creation of dance.