Contemporary Thai Southern Dance (Manora Dancing): A Story of Nakha

Abstract

Creative research: A Story of Nakha, the purpose of this performing art was to create dancing postures with storytelling from Manora’s white fingernails. This study was an action research including analytical description. The dancing was divided into three stages; Stage 1 to show the holiness of Manora’s fingernails in Nora Magic Ceremony, Stage 2 to show the use of Manora’s fingernails mixed with basic dancing styles including symbol creation such as trees, flowers, leaves, birds, and insects; and Stage 3 to show the use of Manora’s fingernails mixed with four dancing contents that were different dancing processes but using redundant dancing styles and increasing rhythm and speed. In the last stage, communication, conversation, and response were made through the dancing process blended with using the Manora’s fingernails (all eight white fingernails). There were six performers, who wore black suits with headscarves covering their faces, and danced with several dancing styles synchronized with the rhythm of Manora music that consisted of Thai flute, drum, gong, cup-shaped cymbals, and Thai shorted drum (Tub), blended with singing the eight-minute-long song of Manora including.  Each was blended with the basic rhythm of Manora dancing; Sord-soy and Thong-rong in all of the three stages of the Manora dancing.