Performing Arts Spiritual Performances |71
Nora
The Exquisiteness of Performance
The delicately soft, yet energetic dance movement in intensely rhythmic
music from Thap (or Thon) and a unique costume adorned with colorful beads is the
incomparable charm of Nora, a form of folk performing arts popular in the Southern
region of Thailand since ancient times.
Nora has been a long-standing performance since the Ayutthaya period.
It is believed that Nora was firstly performed in Phatthalung city, which is now Bang
Kaeo district, in Phatthalung province. Nora was later distributed to other cities of
Southern Thailand and when it reached the Central region, where it gave birth to
Lakhon Chatri. As it brought the story of “Phra Suthon - Manohra” to the show,
it was finally called Manohra.
The prominences that make Nora’s performance different from others are its
costume and musical instruments. Nora costume includes a Soet (crown), an exquisite
head accessory for the principal performer, or “Nora Yai”, and a top which is made
of beads in various colors, patterns and motifs. It is also decorated with Pik Nok Aen
or Pik Neng (a pair of wings), Thap Suang (pendant), Pik or Hang Hong (tail wing),
Pha Nung (wrapped skirt), Sanap Phlao (a pair of half-length trousers), Pha Hoi Na
(front-hanging cloth), Pha Hoi Khang (side-hanging cloth), Kamlai Ton Khaen (armlets),
Kamlai Plai Khaen (bracelets) and Leb (extended fingernails). All these arts in great
detail require strong commitment and creativity. However, they are the costume and
decorations only for the principal character, called Nora Yai or Nora Yuen Khrueang,
while the costume for female characters or Khrueang Nang does not have armlets,
pendant, or wings. But the bead decorations are comparably beautiful.
“The uniqueness of the Nora
dance is to mix the various
dance moves together
harmoniously with the agility
and skillfulness to change the
dancing style to the rhythm
of music. It also has to be
beautiful and lithe, sometimes
it also increases the ability to
dance in particular, such as
arm posture, lithesome body,
finesse dance.”