THE CREATION OF CONTEMPORARY DANCE: MAN PUPPET ON TA-LUNG NOHRA

Abstract

The purposes of this study are to 1) study the history of performing the shadow puppets and Nohra dance, a form of public entertainment in the south of Thailand, 2) study the procedures of the creation of “Man Puppet on Ta-lung Nohra”, and 3) disseminate the work or performance of “Man Puppet on Ta-lung Nohra” to the public.

            It was found that the history of performing the shadow puppets was a symbol of people in the south of Thailand. Ta-lung was the performance used the figures made of leather and controlled by the dancer who made the figures move. The dancer’s duties were performing the puppets, narrating, and speaking at the same time. There were six characters in Ta-lung: the giant, the hermit, the governor, the leading actor, the leading actress, and the clown. But for the leading characters and the governor, central Thai was used. The music used in the performance were the drums, tup, mong, fiddle, cymbal, and flute. In the present time, the music was combined with modern music. Nohra dance is the native or folk performance of the south. There were 17 dances altogether There were 12 dances from the rum mae bot on the line of Khun Aupatumnarakorn.

            Nohra costumes imitated those of the king’s sewn with beads. The creation of “Man Puppet Ta-lung Nohra” has created the new tune of music using folk music of the south combined with modern music. Performing the shadow puppets combined with Nohra dances have made the movements of various types following the actions of Ta-lung figures, which were controlled by the puppet performer. The performance took 4.15 minutes with 24 dances altogether.

            Dissemination of the work, the “Man Puppet Ta-lung Nohra” to the public. The audience were satisfied at the high point, with an average of 4.59.