The Creation of Dance for Promoting Community Identity of Bang Phli District, Samut Prakan Province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to create the countryfolk song and dance in order to distribute the work through the community cooperation. It employed qualitative and creative research methodologies. The tools for the study were academic documents, research studies, performing arts works, the in-depth interview with 10 Bang Phli citizens, and the interview with experts and people related with the study. The collected data were analyzed to explore for the model of work creation. The results of the study revealed that the creation of performing arts to promote the identity of Bang Phli community included three aspects: the identity of Bang Phli community, the creation of performing arts works, and the work distribution and integration with the community. The identity of Bang Phli community consisted of six aspects: 1) population including the Thais, the Laotians, the Mons, and the Chineses; 2) traditions and cultures, Receiving Lotus Festival which has been inherited from generation to generation; 3) architecture, Suvarnabhumi Airport which was the largest airport in Thailand; 4) home economics, snakeskin gourami which was a tasty fish; 5) agriculture, sweet mango plantation which was a kind of mango with a sweet and remarkable taste; and 6) performing arts and music, Lakhon Chatri and Thai musical instruments which have been inherited from generation to generation. The creation of performing arts works could be analyzed through seven elements of performance: 1) inspiration and concept; 2) performers; 3) lyrics and music; 4) costumes; 5) props; 6) performing area; and 7) performance postures. The work distribution and integration with the community could be described by the participation in the online presentation in National Arts Exhibition: Contemporary Local Cultures, on 29 November 2021, hosted by Valaya Alongkorn Rajabhat University under the Royal Patronage.