Back to Basics: Development of Additional Courses for Creative Dance in a Thai Secondary School

This study employed a research and development method to design courses that enhance creative dance skills for students in Mathayomsuksa 1 (typically aged 12-13 years). Divided into four phases, the study used background information and input from students and teachers to design a dance course that addressed the neglect of Thai culture in the existing curriculum. A pilot study was implemented and evaluated, revealing that the curriculum improves artistic, creative, and technical skills while heightening cultural awareness. The results showed that prioritizing personal growth and individual expression over procedural dance technique raised cultural awareness among the sample population. The study indicates that an existential pedagogy leads to heightened cultural awareness among dance students.