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Loi Kratong Dance

  • Loi Krathong (Thai ลอยกระทง, Loy Krathong) is a festival celebrated annually throughout Thailand and certain parts of Laos and the Shan State of Myanmar.
The name Loi Krathong  comes from the tradition of making buoyant decorations which are then floated on a river. This  festival is a Thai tradition which has been conducted for a long time ago.

A simple but graceful  dance has been created, based on the Thai circle dance called Rumwong performed to the Loi Krathong song.


History

In the past, the Loi Krathong  was called as Chong Pa Rieng. A floating lantern of royal ceremony. It is a Brahman festival to worship Gods- Shiva, Vishnu, and Brahma. 

When  the Thai adopted Buddhism, they adapted this ceremony to honor the Buddha’s cremated bone- the original Buddha at the second heaven ruler. They floated lantern to worship the footprint of the Buddha on Nammathanati River beach in India.

Floating  the krathong along the river was created by Nang Noppamas; the most favorite concubines of the Sukhothai king. 



She made krathong as lotus-shapedThe king of Sukhothai floated it along the river. 



Dance Properties:
Nationality – Thai
Dance Culture – Festival
Place of Origin – Thailand (North)
Dance Classification – Rumwong (circle dance)/Festival
Music – Loi Krathong song
Time Signature – 2/4 or 4/4
Props - krathong
                                                   krathong

Mood – jovial or cheerful
Stance - erect
Performers – typically couple/mixed
Formation – typically circle

Costumes

Any Thai costume (chut Thai)  typical of the region in Thailand represented:

                  

North



Northeast (Isan)


Central 


Southern





Wai
  • The Thai greeting referred to as the wai consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion.

Finger Positions



                                                        Cheaptips of the index finger and thumb touch; other fingers are apart and held stiff.

                                      Quong - all four fingers held together and stiffly; thumb held stiff and apart from the fingers

Dance Steps (note: R means right; L - means left ; swd - sideward)


Dainty walks/steps

Step Cross (step R (L) in place or swd R (L) ; cross L (R) in front of R (L

Four step turn  R L)



Choreograph Sequence


The movements of this dance is based on the Rumwong


Entrance


8M - Carrying the krathong on the L; arms in 2nd position, 16 steps to formation, Girl (G )followed by Boy (B)


          ●Fig 1 Music A


2M – Step cross R and L

2M – 4 step turn R

4M – Repeat starting L and turning L

8M – 16 steps B and G moving in circle


Fig 2 Music B

8M – Hold krathong with both hands close to chest and make 12 steps fwd; bend trunk to place krathong on floor, then wai 


Fig 3 Music A


16M – moving in circle CCW, move both arms  swd R (2M); move arms swd L (2M) ; repeat ; 32 steps, G follow


Fig 4 Music B


8M – same arms movements, B and G moving in circle

Girl followed by Boy


Fig 5 Music A Instrumental


2M – facing audience, step cross R and L

2M – 4 step turn R

4M – Repeat to L

8M - repeat


Fig 6 Music B Instrumental

8M – facing audience, 16 steps; bring arms  swd R, slightly raised than in the preceding figure


Fig 7 Music A


16M – Repeat Fig. 5 


Fig 8 Music B


8M – 12 steps move fwd to get krathong

2M – 4 step turn R; do the wai




🎯Answer this questions after dancing...

How do you feel while dancing the dance Loi Krathong?
Does the steps easy to follow?
For you, what message does it convey ?



Thank you for reading and commenting.....

                  

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