Fingernail: Roles and Significance for Thai Traditional Dances

Abstract

Thai dance focuses not only on the outstanding gestures in performances, but also on the costumes and props, in which obviously reflect each performance’s trait. Brass fingernails are believed to be a prop that has been long existed in performances until the present days. It has been also adapted to fit into each period of time. In addition, wearing brass fingernails are appeared into Thai dance in each region; for example, fingernail dance in the North, Suai Mue dance in the Northeast, and Nora dance in the South. Dancing gestures and styles of the brass fingernails differ according to the context of performances in each region as well as the appearances of brass fingernail. Therefore, dancing gestures of each performance are unique. Wearing brass fingernails as a prop enables the performance to become more interesting, complete, and graceful. It also reflects the performers’ skills of smoothly using the prop by positioning their gestures, appropriately and gracefully. Moreover, it reflects folk wisdom of Thai people in the past. This is considered the cultural inheritance of dancing that reflects one of Thai identities.