The E-San Mural Paintings: Character Poses From Local Literature To A Creation Of A Dance Performance Entitled Hoop Hoy Roy Rob

Abstract

This research aimed to 1) study the characters’ poses from local literature in E-san mural paintings and

2) create a dance performance entitled “Hoop Hoy Roy Rob”. The research is qualitative with the target group consisting of the E-san mural paintings from six temples, consisting of Wat Pa Lelai in Maha Sarakham Province, Wat Sa Bua Kaew and Wat Sanuanwaree Phatthanaram in Khon Kaen Province, Hua Wiang Rangsi Temple, Phutthasima Temple, and Pho Kham Temple in Nakhon Phanom Province. The result showed that the characters’ poses from local literature found in the E-san mural paintings consisting of the characters’ poses in battles, including standing, walking, sitting, hand movements, foot movements, head tilting, and body movements, very similar to dance poses. The poses can be compared to the dance poses of Shiva from the book of Natya Shastra and the dance poses from the Thai dance textbooks. These poses were analyzed to create the poses used in dance performances through the concept of choreography that led to the creation of the dance performance entitled Roob Hoy Roy Rob, consisting of 6 following steps: 1) studying the characters’ forms from three local works of literature, including Sinxay, Phra Lak Phra Lam, and Suriwong found in the E-san mural paintings, 2) creating the dance poses by using the characters’ poses, 3) creating a creative dance performance by using all male performers and dividing the performances into three parts, 4) designing the costumes of the dance performance through the study of the characters’ poses in the mural paintings in the research area, 5) design various ways of forming lines, and 6) adding songs and music. The songs were newly created, starting with the E-san Lae melody using the traditional flute called Pi and other E-san musical instruments found in the painting mixed with Western musical instruments to create a more beautiful and interesting melody.