The Development of Knowledge in Performing Arts to Enhance Community Capacity as Soft Power, Based on Cultural Identity and Local Wisdom of Mueang Kaen Phatthana Municipality, Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province DOI:

Abstract

This research aimed to: 1) study and compile knowledge related to arts and culture, dance performance arts, and local wisdom of Mueang Kaen Pattana Municipality; 2) create a dance performance; 3) develop skills and knowledge in performing arts; and 4) enhance community potential as soft power based on the cultural identity of Mueang Kaen Pattana Municipality. The research employed a research and development approach integrated with performance creation, using a mixed-methods design that combined quantitative, qualitative, and creative research methods. The research instruments consisted of: 1) interview forms, 2) tests, 3) satisfaction assessment forms, and 4) performance creation evaluation forms. The key informants included community leaders, heads of housewives’ groups, and community performing arts groups within Mueang Kaen Pattana Municipality, totaling representatives from 27 communities. The research was conducted in three phases comprising eight steps. The findings revealed that: 1) knowledge related to arts and culture, performing arts, and local wisdom of Mueang Kaen indicated the presence of several cultural tourism resources. The local dance performances included Fingernail Dance (Fon Lep) and Retro Circle Dance (Ram Wong Yonk Yuk). 2) The creative performance developed was Fon Buang Suang Phaya Sam Fang Kaen. Newly composed music and lyrics were created, accompanied by a northern Thai folk music ensemble. Costumes and accessories retained the distinctive identity of traditional Fon Lep attire. The choreography was developed based on dance composition theory, incorporating seven principal movements derived from the master repertoire songs, A Set of seventeen interpretive dance gestures and a total of nine movements adapted from Lanna dance, specifically Fon Lep. The overall quality evaluation of the performance across all components yielded a mean score of 4.17, indicating a good level (SD = 0.20). 3) The results of skill and knowledge development in performing arts included the creation of learning media covering the history of performance creation, performance components, makeup, and hairstyling. The experimental results, with a full score of 20, showed a pre-test results of dance performance skills of 18.16 (SD = 2.23) and a post-test results of dance performance skills of 19.74 (SD = 0.77). Participant satisfaction with the activities was at a high level, with a mean score of 4.62 (SD = 0.05).