Abstract

Gestures are those meticulous movements that convey meaning and emotion through the body, that transcend linguistic and social barriers, and serve as a universal language that connects people across cultures. In dance, gestures are the stylized symbols that carry meanings, convey narratives and emotions, and allow a diverse audience of different backgrounds to engage with and interpret the performance. This study adopts the methodology of a qualitative comparative approach that foregrounds the Laotian traditional dances such as Lam Vong, Lao Phaen Noy, and Champa Muang, which were considered for this study, identifying the similarities through the lens of Nāṭyaṡāstra, focusing on the gestures of the Aṅga (limbs) [Head (the Ṡira), Hands (the Hasta), Chest (the Uraḥ), both Sides (the Pārṡva), Waist (the Katī), and Feet (the Pāda)] to reveal the influence of the Indian classical dance gestures on Laotian traditional dances. This study proves that the systematization and the codification of gestures in the Nāṭyaṡāstra, as a semiotic lexicon, provide a valuable foundation for the comparative analysis of global dance tradition, despite the absence of textual documentation in the Lao Tradition. This investigation not only helps us to understand the multicultural dimensions of dance but also echoes the magnificent confluence of traditions across regional boundaries.