THE ESSENCE OF PLENG CHA PLENG REOW NARAI

Abstract

The essence of Pleng Cha Pleng Reow Narai aims to study the history, the dance movements and dance techniques, and the semiology of Pleng Cha Pleng Reow Narai. This research employs various kinds of research methodologies including documents, interviews, analysis of dance structure, principal of choreography and analysis of semiology of Pleng Cha Pleng Reow Narai. The research found that the choreography of the Pleng Cha Pleng Reow Narai created by Khun Tao Worachan (Drawn by Chaochom Manda Wad in the reign of King Rama IV) in the year 1910 – 1918. The purpose of this dance is to worship the guardian god at Suan Kularb Palace. The dance structure of the Pleng Cha Pleng Reow Narai derived on the selective choreography of the Pleng Reow Rabum dance. The choreographer selected the set of dance movement creating the new specially hand gesture form and new movement direction, which represent the good meaning and uniqueness of Thai classical dance. The characteristic of this dance was based on the rules and customs of Royal Thai court dance style, which presented in Knon and Lakhon Nai dance styles. The forms and structure of this dance must be strong, powerful, smooth, and proceed with gentleness. The research result also demonstrated that Mue Ro Keaw or Mue Narai, the special hand gesture of this dance, is a semilogy implicating the symbolic of Narayana God in Thai classical dance for more than 95 years. Moreover, the choreography of the Pleng Cha Pleng Reow Narai dance also reflects the sacred ancient worshipping of the past especially for royal rituals that requires all round beauty in every aspect of the performances. The dance reflects the intricacy in the creativity of this innovative dance starting from the ideas, the meaning of each body movements to the use of areas and in every aspect of the performance’s choreography, especially the symbolic meaning and characteristic traits of Narayana God, an important God and incarnates which subdue sufferings on earth.