Kamani Taeng Tua: Thai and Chinese choreography

Abstract

This article is written based on creative research that aimed to study and compare the basic expression, posture and movement of a male fighter character in Chinese (classical opera) and Thai dance using the choreography for the “Kamani Taeng Tua” dance by using a mix of Chinese dance and Thai dance. As a result of the study, it was found that the Chinese male fighter character’s basic posture, movement and dance are very similar to Thai characters, as leading man, woman, giant and monkey characters. Main point of Chinese dance is then used for choreographing “kamani” who is the Chinese character in literature called “Rachatirat”. The show is divided into four parts: introduction part, bathing part, dressing part and weapon dance part. Eventually, there is solo dance choreography for Chinese character in “Lakorn Pantang” which has never been created before.