What is the folk dance of the Dai people

The Dai dance is a kind of characteristic dance for the Dai people to express their feelings; most of them are graceful and slow in rhythm, and some of them are light and bright. Dance of the Dai ethnic group has many kinds and forms, and its popularity is also very wide, and each has its own characteristics. The representative programs can be divided into self-indulgence, performance and ritual

The Dai are one of the earliest rice-cultivating peoples in the world, who live by the water, love water, pray for water, and have special feelings for water. In the myth of the Dai people, the Creator Yingba was originally the water in the sky; and people are made of water and clay; the ancestors of the Dai people were born in the water pond. In the various legends about the "Water Festival", although the characters are different, but they use water to subdue the fire, use water to wash the blood, use water to pray for blessings and so on is the same.

The Dai people are hard-working, brave, gentle and kind, which is recognized by all; "a nation like water" is another description of the Dai people's character. They are polite and gentle, soft on the outside and strong on the inside, wise and smart and humorous character like water, sometimes like a trickle of fine streams, gentle and delicate; sometimes like the torrent of a big river, swift and surging. The dance of the Dai people also fully reflects this colorful national character. Dai dance has a long history, according to the "Houhan Book - Southwest Barbarians" records, Yongning first year (120), the Dai ancestors Shan people's chief had to the East Han Emperor dedicated a large-scale music and dance, acrobatics. This shows that as early as 1,000 years ago, there is a high level of local singing and dancing performing arts.

The Dai dance is of many kinds and forms, and its popularity is also very wide, and each has its own characteristics. The representative programs can be divided into three categories: self-indulgence, performance and ritual.

Self-indulgent street dances include "Gaguang", "Elephant Foot Drum Dance", "Yelahui" and "Shouting Half-light", etc., of which the most representative ones are "Gaguang", "Yelahui" and "Shouting Half-light". Among them, the most representative ones are "Gaguang" and "Elephant Foot Drum Dance". 1. "Gaguang" is a Dai language, and "Ga" means "ga". "Ga" is the Dai language, "Ga" for jumping or dancing, "light" refers to the drums, but also has the meaning of gathering and piling up. "Ga Guang" can be translated as "dancing around the drum" or "jumping drum dance". In Xishuangbanna, it is called "Fanguang", and in many places, it is also called "Jumping Pendulum", "Ning Pendulum", etc. This dance is the oldest dance of the Dai people. This dance is the oldest dance of the Dai people, popular in more than 20 counties and cities, and it is a self-indulgent dance that can be danced at the time of annual festivals and celebrations, regardless of men and women, young and old, and regardless of the venue. Gaguang is accompanied by national percussion such as elephant foot drums and cymbals; however, in some places, those who play drums and cymbals also participate in the dance and lead the crowd to dance in a circle. In the past, when dancing, the dancers could play as they wished, and only wanted to be enthusiastic and joyful. Now has developed a lot of unified movements and routines, movements and routines of different names, and has given rise to a number of dance programs. Such as young people dancing "new point of light" there are more than 30 sets, there are two middle-aged and elderly women to carry the big point of light jumping "point of light central" as well as the elderly men jumping "Gawain" (soft dance) and so on.

2. The Elephant Foot Drum Dance is a male dance for self-entertainment and performance.

The elephant foot drum is based on the shape of the drum and take the name, the Dai people generally collectively referred to as "Gaguang", but on the long, medium and small three kinds of elephant foot drums and have their own names. This kind of dance is mainly performed on the drums, accompanied by sharp points and cymbals, and can also be danced on drums and cymbals.

Long elephant foot drum dance drum body length of one meter eight to two meters, the Dai language called "Ga light around", all over the world, but to Ruili County's most representative. Long elephant foot drum is used for accompaniment, can play a rich and varied drums, and there are some drum language, such as "about pen Luo, about pen Luo, about must be about Li Li" (meaning "good to lift, good to lift, good to lift the wings"); can also be struck by the side of the solo dance, in the display of the drumming techniques At the same time, the long tail of the drum rotates and swings dramatically to form a beautiful dance.

The drum body of the Elephant's Foot Drum Dance is about one meter long, and this dance is popular in the whole Dai area, especially in Luxi, Yingjiang, Lianghe and other counties in Dehong area and Baoshan, Lincang and other places are the most representative. The elephant foot drum dance in Ronghong Dai language called "Gaguang", also known as "Gaguang Wujie" or "Gaguang Heila". When jumping is generally back drums follow the circle and dance, can be two people dance, can also be hit with the cymbal dance. In Mangshi, Dehong, there used to be a drum race, to beat the drum sound length, tone of voice, drum tail fluttering amplitude of the size of the dance whether the good-looking standard, the winner of the drum on the silver plate.

Small elephant foot drum dance drum body length of about sixty centimeters or so, popular in Jinghong, Menghai, Mengla and other counties, Xishuangbanna Dai language for the "where the light toto". Because the drum is small and lightweight, it can be danced flexibly, so this kind of dance is mainly competitive, usually a two-person dance, four people or a group can also be. Dance with the drum to chase and fight, retreat and dodge, kicking and fighting feet and other actions to be able to remove the other side of the head of the "head of the bag" for the win.

Shouting half light is an ancient form of Dai song and dance, popular in the Dehong region of Mangshi, Yingjiang, Ruili and other counties. "Shout half light" for the Dehong Dai language, "shout" means "singing" or "song", "half" means "singing" or "song", "half" means "singing" or "song". "half" means "follow me" or "around", "light" that is "! The word "light" means "drum"; the direct translation is "the song sung with the drum". There is no limit to the number of people who can dance.

Yelahui is a self-indulgent song and dance popular in Xishuangbanna, which used to be performed only by men during the Water Festival, but now it has become a form of collective song and dance in which both men and women, young and old, can participate. This kind of song and dance is simple and can be performed freely; however, the tune is fixed, so as long as someone improvises the lyrics and takes the lead in singing, the crowd can sing in chorus. At the end of the song, they call out "Yelahui, Shuiyi, Shuiyi". So this kind of song and dance is called "Yelahui"

Performing dances include "Peacock Dance," "Elephant Dance," "Fish Dance," "Butterfly Dance," "Butterfly Dance" and "Fish Dance. "


Performing dances include the Peacock Dance, the Elephant Dance, the Fish Dance, the Butterfly Dance, and the Gomer Hat Dance,......, among others. The most representative is the Peacock Dance. Peacock Dance in the Dai dance is the most characteristic performative dance, in the Dehong region, Xishuangbanna region and Jinggu, Menglian, Gengma and other counties have circulated. The Peacock Dance, in the Dai language in Dehong, is called "Ga Luoyong", and in the Dai language in Xishuangbanna, it is called "Fan Nuoyong". "Ga" and "where" are jumping or dancing; "Luoyong" and "Nuoyong" are "peacock". During the performance, the dancers carry pagoda-shaped gold crowns and masks on their heads and peacock rack props on their backs, accompanied by elephant foot drums, cymbals and other musical instruments. There are solo dances, duo dances, trio dances and opera performances.

The peacock dance is not the same around the dance, to performers with different skills and specialties and the formation of a variety of different styles. The most representative of the solo dance is the Ruili County artists, who are modeled after the peacock dance. The most representative of the solo dance is the artists of Ruili County, who form rich dance steps by molding; Ruili County has more semi-professional artists, such as Ruiban, Hefei, Mao Xiang, about the phase, Wangla, etc., who have their own innovations in performance and are known throughout the province for their respective styles. Double Peacock Dance, also known as the "Fan Nan Nuo", the most representative double peacock dance circulated in Jinghong County. The word "Nan" means "noble woman", and "Nuo" means "finch" or "bird". "The name "Fan Nan Nuo" can be translated as "Dance of the Bird Princess", and this dance mainly shows the flying and dancing of two peacocks, male and female, relative to each other. The Peacock Dance of Mangshi City, Luxi County, was originally a three-person dance performing the "Peacock and the Devil", which later evolved into a solo dance, with the peacock props made large and beautifully ornate, opening and closing freely, attracting a large audience. Jinggu County's peacock dance is a song and dance theater performance, singing while dancing, dance steps are simpler to walk and broken step-based, the performance is a Buddhist scripture story, "Calling the He Han to play the peacock

Yuanyang County's Dai villages passed down the "ritual drum dance" is in the ancestor worship activities, to drums as an accompaniment to the teacher's wife on the altar, singing and dancing. In the Dai settlements in Shiping County, there is the "Dragon Dance" (跳龍舞), which is performed during the activities of sacrificing the dragon tree. During the dance, the male witch holds an iron circle with a ring, and the female witch holds a one-sided drum made of sheepskin, and they lead the dance, and the villagers participate in the dance according to the rhythm. From time to time, all the circle, from time to time, two to dance, no fixed form and formation, the dancers change position as they wish, only to seek high emotions, solemn and enthusiastic. Dance movement is simple, small steps, knees with the pace of a small range of toughness tremor, hands up around the semicircle, in the left and right waist side of the drum and shake the ring.

Xinping County also has the "Lion Dance" which is danced at the time of funeral, accompanied by suona and gongs; there are some routines, such as dancing around the coffin and opening the way in front of the coffin, etc. The performance style and music of this dance are similar to that of the "Lion Dance". The performance style and music of the dance is similar to that of the Han and Yi, and there are obvious traces of absorbing the dance music of the Han and Yi.

Some ritual dances, such as the "Jumping Willow God" and "Beima Dance" popular in Jiangcheng County, have been passed down in the past in the Dehong area, and now no one jumps again.

The Ming Dynasty "Baiyi biography" described in the "parents died, without the monks and Taoists, the sacrifice is a woman wishing in front of the corpse, the relatives and neighbors, each holding wine in the home of the mourners, gathered hundreds of young people, drinking music, singing and dancing up to the day, called the entertainment of the corpse; women gathered, hit the pestle and pestle for the play, a few days later, and burial." Ritual dance scenes can now also be seen only in the Dai settlement in Xinping County: on the second day of mourning, a blow-drum troupe must be invited to dance for the dead (i.e., lion dance); women gang up and play with the men. It shows that the dances in funeral activities that existed during the Ming Dynasty still exist today, only simplified.

Martial arts

The Dai people have another type of martial arts dance, which has a long history. The Dai have experienced a feudal lordship society. Adult male Dai, who were serfs in peacetime and soldiers in wartime, had to learn the skills and routines of dancing with knives, guns, sticks and fists for self-defense and participation in wars. Today's Dai men have also inherited this tradition as a way to show their bravery and resourcefulness. But today they practice the sword, gun, stick and fist, has been integrated into the learning from other ethnic groups, such as boxing has a local boxing, foreign boxing, Myanmar boxing, Thai boxing and other different styles and schools, performances with drums and other accompaniment, the development of the dance of martial arts.

Other

1, Yilaha Dance - also known as "annoying Yilaha". Popular in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture. In the Dai New Year "Water Festival" and "Open Door Festival" or happy days, the Dai people have to dance this dance, which is named because of the "Yilaga" as a liner at the end of each verse. The characteristics of the Yilaga dance are similar to those of the Jarring Light Dance.

2, Butterfly Dance -- Dai language called "Jar Yan". Popular in Gengma County Meng Ding and Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture Ruili County area. It is said that the Butterfly Dance was created for the purpose of making the dance a unique one. During the performance, the dancers tie the butterfly-shaped props on their bodies to imitate the form of butterflies, and their movements and drum beats are similar to those of the small peacock dance.

3. The Bucket Dance is popular in the area of Jinping County. It is hot and rainy there, and hats are indispensable in daily life and labor. Thus, there is the Bucket Hat Dance. Hat hat action has "carry hat", "body before the roll cap", "roll shoulder cap", "swing cap", etc., dance knee The knees are softly undulating during the dance and are slightly modeled as a three-way bend, but it is not obvious.

4, Lajiao dance - Dai language called "Jardine". It is a kind of performative ceremonial dance, mainly popular in Xishuangbanna. The dance is soft and subtle, and it is often performed in sitting, standing, kneeling and undulating steps, lifting the front side, and bending the leg afterward, etc. The dance is performed with both hands holding the lighted wax strips, and it is performed by pulling out the hands, and drawing a circle outward, etc. The dance is also performed in the form of the "Lajiao Dance".

5, Chicken Dance - Dai language called "Jar Cai". It is a children's dance popular in Luxi County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. The dance mainly imitates the movements of chickens foraging for food and fighting with each other, and it is won by the long time and fast speed of the dance. It is not accompanied by musical instruments and is usually danced by children counting.

6, twelve horse dance - the Dai language called "Ma Xi Shuang", is a song and dance performed by twelve people, popular in Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture Yingjiang County, Luxi County and other places. The performers wear horse-shaped props around their waists, pull the reins with one hand and hold a fan with the other, and run mainly on half-pedal trembling, changing all kinds of formations. Generally, they sing about twelve months of labor, and sometimes they also perform certain storylines.

7, Cannon Yan - meaning "the little princess or young lady's dance." In the past, only in the religious festivals or the Toastmasters marriage, succession to jump, mainly popular in Cangyuan County Meng understand the region. The dance is mainly sung, and the content includes singing about marriage, love and twelve months of production and labor. Dance in front of the male fist, the female holding a fan or handkerchief, the action is similar to the Jar with the light dance.

Characteristics of Dance

The movements of Dai dance are mostly graceful and graceful, and the rhythm is relatively gentle, but the outer softness and inner strength are full of inner strength. There is the "Gomer Hat Dance" which is graceful and light, as well as the Elephant Foot Drum Dance, Knife Dance and Boxing Dance which are flexible, athletic and agile, and full of masculinity. In the performance of Peacock Dance, sometimes the rhythm is slow and single, the movement is stretched and the feelings are inherent and implicit, sometimes the rhythm is fast and changeable, the movement is flexible and jumping, and the feelings are wild and bold. The Dai dance is characterized by the unique flexion and extension of the rhythm and the formation of the hands, feet, body "three curves" modeling characteristics, as well as rigid and flexible, static and dynamic with the unique performance style, y loved by the masses.

Most of the Dai people live in countries bordering on Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The Dai people are good at absorbing the cultural essence from all directions, and are able to integrate it into their own ancient culture, which, after a long period of development, has resulted in the formation of a wide range of Dai dances in a variety of forms.