Rueam Anre (Pestle Dance)

Creator:Namphueng, Surin Province (Mrs.Samruam Deesom)

"Rueam Anre" is a traditional folk performance and play of the Thai-Khmer ethnic group in the southern part of the Isan region, particularly in Surin and Si Sa Ket provinces. The word "Rueam" translates to "dance," and "Anre" means "pestle" (used for pounding rice). Therefore, this performance is known as the "Pestle Dance," sharing similarities with the central region's Lao Krathop Mai (bamboo dance). Although its exact origins are unrecorded, it is believed to stem from the traditional lifestyle of the villagers. In the past, after the harvest season or before the Songkran festival, villagers would gather to pound rice. The rhythmic and lively sound of the pestles striking the mortar would attract young men and women in the village to gather, socialize, and court one another.