REUAM AN-RE: FOLK DANCES IN THAI KHMER SONGKRAN FESTIVAL

Abstract

          This article aimed to study the folk dance, Reuam An-Re, in the Thai Khmer Songkran Festival. This study was conducted by employing qualitative research methodology and fieldwork which aimed at investigating specifically a folk dance that appeared in the Khmer Songkran tradition in Surin province, Thailand. The results revealed a unique folk dance specific to the Thai Khmer Songkran Festival held in the fifth lunar month. This dance, known as Reuam An-Re or the pestle dance, played a significant role in the festival's traditions. Reuam An-Re was a folk dance performance that involved playing and dancing with a pair of long-handled rice mortars, struck together in rhythm with traditional folk music and singing. The traditional Reuam An-Re allowed villagers to participate in this dance. They can gather around and dance while the pestles were struck in rhythm. The dance followed the rhythm of the percussion and represented the way of flirting between young men and women The melodies and dance movements, filled with emotions, thoughts, and feelings, showcased the brilliance of folk artists who brought joy to their communities for generations. Furthermore, Reuam An-Re has been developed into a standardized folk-dance performance for presentation on occasions beyond the Songkran Festival. The dance movements, melodies, and costumes have been unified to create a consistent style. Therefore, both traditional and modern Reuam An-Re dances are representatives of folk dances and cultural identity, which show the long-standing cultural heritage of the Thai Khmer culture.