Aesthetic in the Set of Archaeological Dances

Abstract

        Archaeological dances are a masterpiece of performance art created by the Department of Fine Arts with the aim of narrating archaeological stories from 5 periods-the Dvaravati, Srivijaya, Lopburi, Chiang Saen and Sukhothai Periods, through dance performances. The creation of the dance elements is based on archaeological and historical evidence.
        The aesthetic of archaeological dances is expressed through the perfect combination of dance choreography that appears before the eyes of the audience and the music that appeals to their ears. This aesthetic can be analyzed in 5 aspects: 1) Beautiful dance postures and movements that have been adapted from sculptures of different archaeological periods; 2) The varied beautiful formats depicting the change in the dancers’ line movements; 3) Beautiful dancers who have been selected because their physical appearance is close to that of the ethnic group concerned or people of ancient times; 4) Melodious songs and music that help to create the atmosphere of those historical periods; and 5) Attire that is modeled upon the clothing of women depicted in ancient objects from different periods. These 5 aspects all help to enhance the beauty of archaeological dances and have been included in the curriculum of dance schools. Also, they have become the model for the creation of new historical dances in the Thai dance art form.