Page 17 - Nora a Living Dance Tradition of Southern Thailand
P. 17
Nora culture is always
evolving.
โ€Noraโ€ or โ€Manorahโ€ culture
emerges from โ€Rong Khruโ€ (literally
โ€ritual hall of the mastersโ€) ritual
performed by Nora masters (called
โ€Nora Yai,โ€ โ€Nai Rong,โ€ or โ€Raja Khruโ€)
in southern Thai communities. In these
rituals, specially trained and initiated
Nora masters re-enact the legendary
founding of the Nora tradition by
combining potent spells, lively music,
and their powerful dancing and singing
skills to create a sacred space in a human
community into which they invite their
ancestors and spirits.
Once the ancestral spirits have
been invited, the Nora masters provide
them with special offerings of food,
cloth, and drink, as well as specially
prepared dancing and singing tied
to Nora legends and guided by rhythmic
music in a temporary performance space.
Their intricate and energetic performances
are done as much to entertain and
impress the ancestors as they are done
for their living descendants and the
wider community present at the rituals.
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