Page 141 - Nora a Living Dance Tradition of Southern Thailand
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The Nora Masterโ€s โ€Serdโ€ or Crown and other Decorations which a chintz or solid color loincloth is tightly wrapped.
These are wound round with a long waist sash and a front waist
The โ€Serd is a uniquely designed short โ€crownโ€ made sash hanging down. The metal girdle is on a belt placed over
of wood which Nora performers wear on their head during the two sashes.
performances. It is also set on a special stand during the Rong There are also other distinctive parts of the Nora masterโ€s
Khru ritual. Formerly, only men could receive and use it, but costume distinctive to Nora culture. Especially important here
now women performers can wear it, too. Among the special are the โ€swan tail,โ€ worn on the back of the Nora dancer,
features of the Nora crown are its design to frame the face, and the eight long, curved metal nails worn on eight fingers of
the arrangement of small lotus-flower-petal pieces around the Nora dancerโ€s hands (all except the thumb on each hand).
the crown, and its decoration with ceremonial thread received These two items help to link the Nora dancer to
from having participated in Rong Khru ritual. the legendry supernatural part-bird, part-human figure in
Among other special accessories of a Nora master the Suthon-Manorah Jataka tale and other bird legends.
performers are the following nine items: a breastplate hung on The โ€swan tailโ€ is shaped like folded bird wings and is associated
the chest, two bird-wing shaped decorations placed on each with flight. It was originally made from two buffalo horns, but is
side of the body, sun-shaped piece worn on the back to hold now made of metal and is often beaded with a brightly colored
cloth pieces together, a girdle worn on the waist, lower and tassel of yarn ball at its tip.
upper arm bracelets for each arm. According to legend, these The long, curved nails, reminiscent of bird-talons, were
nine items, together with the โ€Serdโ€ or โ€Crown,โ€ are collectively made of brass or silver, but now are extended with rattan and
known as โ€Krueng Tonโ€ or โ€royal costumeโ€ which were decorated with beads. The Nora performer wears four nails
reputedly given by a king to the first Nora master. These on each hand, making the dancerโ€s gestures and abrupt hand
decorations were traditionally made of silver, but now are movements more visible and striking. Changing movements in
made of different metals, but are distinguishing features the long, curved nails and movements become a unique focal
of the Nora costume. point of Nora dance.
The special handmade beaded costume is also The Nora master also wears 5-10 metal bangles on each
a unique part of Nora culture. It consists of several pieces arm and leg. These produce sounds when he moves his hands
with beautiful designed beadwork that both cover different and feet while dancing and are a distinctive part of Nora dance.
parts of the upper torso and serve to hold the nine
decorations discussed above. These beaded pieces include: 139
two triangular shoulder covers, one wrapping around each
shoulder; a beaded neck cover over which there is a beaded
necklace holding the metal breastplate; beaded suspenders
which hold the bird-winged decorations and the sun-shaped
piece on the back; a beaded chest cover; a beaded cover around
the posterior, with beads hanging down to cover the loincloth.
In addition to the decorations and the beadwork for the
upper body, there is also dress for the lower body. These
include tight decorated calf-length white underpants over
