I. Peacock Dance
The Peacock Dance is called "Jaluochong", "Bothered Jaluochong", or "Jannanluo" in Dai. This is the most popular dance of the Dai people, circulating in the Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yunnan and Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture.
Peacock in the hearts of the Dai people is a symbol of good fortune, happiness, beauty and kindness. There are many touching legends about the origin of the peacock dance among the Dai people. Legend has it that a long time ago, the leader of the Dai people called Ma Su led four thousand people to look for happiness, and after arriving at the "Lai Shao Meng", they heard the sound of fruits dropping into the water and the sound of fish eating the water, and saw the peacock dancing beautifully along with the melodious sound, and they came back and imitated the sound and the movement of the peacock. Accompanied by drums and cymbals, they danced the peacock dance.
The peacock dance is usually performed by one, two or three people. Whenever the dancers are happy, the crowd applauds "my - my", "water - water", the atmosphere is very The atmosphere is very warm. Peacock dance has a more fixed performance program, mostly imitating the peacock flying out of the nest, sensitive vision exploration, peacefully walking, looking for water, drinking water, water, bathing, shaking wings, sun wings, wings and all things beautiful, free and happy to fly ...... and so on.
The peacock dance is unusually rich in movement, the most common hand style palm style, peacock hand style (thumb slightly inward buckle, index finger flexion back, the remaining three fingers such as a fan-shaped warping), eye style (index finger and thumb slightly close, the remaining three fingers such as a fan-shaped warping) and so on. The steps are tiptoe, undulating step (the power leg is driven by the heel to kick up to the hip and then land on the palm of the foot, the main leg then flexes and extends) and so on. From the dance style can be summarized in the following three categories: the first is the male peacock dance. Folk dance. Knee undulation rigid. Dance posture has obvious "three bends" characteristics. The second is the female peacock dance. It is mostly performed by men in folklore. The knees undulate softly and slowly, the dance posture is beautiful and delicate, and there are often arches of the chest and shoulder rotation, reflecting its subtle and charming form, and the drum beats are light and slow. The third is the Little Peacock Dance. Often use rapid small trembling and maintain a semi-squatting state of the short step, the lower legs are flexible and light, commonly used continuous small shrugs, drums are fast and light.
Second, inspired
The drums of the Dai people can be roughly divided into two kinds: one is a single drum, the Dai language called "light Laleng". The other is a double-sided drum, the Dai language called "light double La". Because the shape of the single-sided drum is like an elephant's leg, it is named "Elephant Foot Drum".
The elephant foot drum dance in the Dai language called "Jar Guang" or "annoying light" (Dai called the drum "light", dancing for "Jar"). "). "Jaguang" is the most popular men's dance in the Dai area. Whenever rice-planting and harvest time comes, the elephant foot drum dance is danced to celebrate. During the performance, the dancer carries the elephant-foot drum on his left shoulder, with the drum facing the front and the drum tail downward, striking the drum with his right hand and cooperating with his left hand. Generally, the dancers use their fists, palms and fingers to beat the drum, and sometimes they also use their elbows, knees, heels and toes to beat the drum. The Elephant Foot Drum Dance is robust and rough. The rise and fall of the knees and the drumming action are closely coordinated, and the knees are bent when the hands are used to beat the drum. When you raise your hands, your knees are straight. The dance steps are very rich, including "half squatting with front pointing step", "half squatting with back pointing step", "full squatting with stepping step", "half squatting with eight steps", and "half squatting with one leg".
"Jar with light" is the meaning of dancing in a circle around the drum, it is the most popular and prevalent collective dance among the Dai people, it is not limited to the location and time, dozens of hundreds of people can be formed into a circle according to the clockwise direction of the dance, festivals all night long and dance without stopping. The dance is simple and enthusiastic, with outstanding features, the women's knee trembling more evenly, and more smooth hand and foot dance. Generally, the dance is based on the steps of "erratic step", "undulating step", "point step", "bow and arrow step" and so on. The movements of the hands are relatively simple, usually alternating with the natural hand style in front of the chest and circling the wrists or pulling the hands upward from the armpits. Sister-in-laws and the elderly dance in the inner circle, the old man's movement is slow, the knee undulation obvious, often with a large amount of forward and backward to express their excitement, their movements arbitrary free play, and outside the circle of young people, is required to move uniformly and neatly. The drums of Jarring Light are very rich.
Double-sided drum dance in the Dai language called "light state", "light two", "light double la", "light Hong ", "light menghuang", etc., circulating in the Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture of Yingjiang County, Ruili County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in some areas and Gengma County, Canyuan County, Menghuang area, is the oldest kind of Dai drum. This kind of drum is big at one end and small at the other, and both sides are covered with skin. Small double-sided drum length of about one and a half feet, can be hung across the body, dance with the palm of the right hand to beat the drum, the left hand with a piece of bamboo to beat the drum, the action of the ups and downs, commonly used in deep squatting and other dance positions, three curved shape is more prominent. Large double-sided drum body basket meters, diameter 67 centimeters. Need two people with bamboo poles to carry up, dancers swinging mallets with both hands, do cloud hand turn, suction legs, kneeling and squatting and other actions to play the drum. Some drums are placed on the ground to play, drums sound powerful. Crowds of people in a circle, holding flowers or handkerchiefs singing and dancing, with the Cannes Companion Light Dance similar to the form of performance.
Third, the fish dance
Fish dance, the Dai language called "Jarba". Mainly in Ruili County, Dehong Dai, Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture, and gradually spread to other areas after liberation. It is said that when the Dai discovered fish and learned to fish, they danced to imitate fish. There are only one or two performers in the Fish Dance, and the dancers dance with fish-shaped props on their bodies. Fish Dance is softer and more delicate than other Dai folk dances, and it is dexterous and lively. It is mainly shown in the undulation, soft knee-bending and half-palm step movement, small jump agile and lively, showing the fish roaming in the calm water, often using the whole foot or half-palm knee-bending and step walking, no undulation, hands and upper body only to the left and right swing. In the performance of the fish play in the water or fight with the rapids, often using a small jump, a small jump, a small flip and other jumping movements, the image is vivid and realistic.
Fish Dance mostly uses fish-shaped hand (a hand with the palm of the hand over the back of the hand of the other hand, the thumb extension), or to the hands outward circle and arms swinging back as a typical action.
The Fish Dance has a slow, light drum beat and a rich drum language not unlike the Peacock Dance.
Four, Roc Bird Dance
The Roc Bird Dance is called "Jialun" in Dai. It is an ancient folk dance performed by the Dai people during grand festivals. It is mainly popular in Ruili County, Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. Roc Bird Dance is robust and rugged, with big and powerful movements. The dance mainly shows the movements and temperament of the roc bird fighting with the rain god. The movement changes quickly and powerfully, and the modeling time is long, "three bends" dance posture with prominent angles. Such as: the appearance of the action is generally a big jump after a big dance modeling, showing the roc bird from the air swiftly down the spirit. More claw hand type (fingers open into a fan) and palm hand type, these hand styles to strengthen the strength of the action.
Roc bird dance performers only one to two people. In the past, the dance was performed with roc-type props and masks, which have now been abandoned, so that the dance movements have been fully developed.
The drums are unusually rich and the sound is deep and powerful.
Fifth, the heron dance
Heron dance, the Dai language called "Jar Yang", "Jar Luo Yang". It is a collective dance for young people during festivals. It is mainly popular in Ruili and Luxi County of Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. In the past, the dancers should be dressed in snow-white clothes, shoulders draped with two bright red ribbons to dance, is now rare.
The Heron Dance is generally based on a pair of dances, the action is relative, the formation is more than two horizontal rows of left and right out of the encounter into two vertical rows, four rows, two circles, and so on. It is often directed by one person to change various movements and figures.
The movement of the heron dance is simple and elegant. The rhythmic treatment of the dance is different from other Dai folk dances, the weak beat when the knees are quickly bent, the power leg agilely raised, the heavy beat when the knees are tough and straight, the power leg at the same time light all feet landing, the image imitates the action of the heron walking. There are special movements such as clapping the hands in front of the chest and arching the chest. The drums are light and simple.
Six, garland dance
Garland dance, called "Jar Dong" in Dai, is a collective dance of young people. Mainly popular in Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture and Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in some areas. Nowadays, it is only danced during grand festivals and has become an organized dance performance. From the very early years, whenever the Water Festival and other religious festivals come, the boys and girls in groups to the deep forests and riverside collection of the most colorful and beautiful flowers, and then playing the elephant foot drums singing and dancing to the flowers to the Maung Maung temple built into a flower pavilion ......, this ancient custom has been passed down in the Dai villages.
Wreaths are in the length of about two meters on the bamboo grate tied on the brightly colored flowers made, dance with both hands holding the ends of the wreaths, while moving the pace, focusing on the changes in the wreaths. The dance is performed with both hands holding the ends of the garlands while moving the steps, focusing on the changes of the garlands and forming patterns with national characteristics. Garland dance to dance to the extreme music, by a command, the dancers together from the slow plate into the fast plate, there are tiptoe, "Dun wrong step small jump" and other actions.
Seven, knife dance and stick, fist, stick dance
The Dai language called the knife dance and stick, fist, stick dance for the "annoying whole", "Jar whole", "order whole". It is a male dance. Circulated in the vast Dai area, similar to the Han Chinese martial arts.
Knife dance Dai language called "Jarla" or "annoying pull". The movement is powerful and robust, and mostly adopts the steps of "Big Eight Stomp", "Bouncing Legs", "Kicking Legs and Dabbing Jump" and "Deep Squatting and Sliding", etc. These movements are similar to those of the Han Chinese. "These movements rarely appear in the Dai folk dance. Knife Dance has single knife, double knives, short knives and long knives (similar to swords) and other types and different genres such as local, mainland, Myanmar, etc. Various genres have their own strict performance programs and movements. It can be performed by one person to a dozen people, and the dance is unaccompanied, or accompanied by elephant foot drums
Sticks, rods, and fists are basically similar to the Knife Dance.
Eight, Cannes
Cannes is also known as the "annoyance of the Duo", is a props dance. This dance used to be in the grand religious festivals only jump, so far only popular in Gengma County Mengding and Menglian County area.
"Duo" is a deified animal, said to have a lion's head, dog mouth, antlers, long neck, fine hair. In Chinese, this dance is known as the "Ma Deer Dance".
Cannes Duo still with props to jump, props body length of one zhang, neck length of eight feet, with a bamboo grate braided into a forty-five-centimeter `circle, the outside with a cloth wrapped up, cut up white paper glued to the top as a feather. Generally, two people cooperate to pretend to be a deer, the front dancers decorate the deer head and the front half of the body, using a stick to support the neck to do scratching movements, the back dancers grasp the tail, to the sides to do agile small jumps and fall, pounce, prancing around and other movements. The dance steps and drum beats are similar to those of the Peacock Dance.
Nine, other types of Dai folk dance
1. Yilaga dance, also known as the "annoying Yiga". Popular in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture area. In the Dai New Year "Water Festival" and "Open Door Festival" or days of celebration, the Dai people have to dance this dance, because each section of the lyrics behind the "Yilaha" as a liner and named. The characteristics of the Yilaga dance are similar to those of the Jarring Light Dance.
2. Butterfly dance, the Dai language called "Jar Yan". It is popular in Gengma County, Mengding and Ruili County, Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture. It is said that the Butterfly Dance was created for the purpose of creating a new style of dance during the race. When the dancers will perform the butterfly-shaped props tied to the body to imitate the shape of the butterfly dance, its movements and drums are similar to the small peacock dance.
3. The hats dance is popular in Jinping County. It is hot and rainy there, and hats are indispensable in daily life and labor. Therefore, there is a bucket hat dance. The action of the hats has "carrying the hat", "rolling the hat in front of the body", "rolling the shoulder hat", "swinging the hat" and so on. 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, the Dai language called "Jardine". It is a performative ritual dance, mainly popular in Xishuangbanna. The dance is soft and subtle, often using sitting, standing, kneeling and undulating steps, lifting the front side, back bending the legs and other steps, hands holding the lighted wax strip, do hand out, outward rowing circle and other actions.
5. Chicken Dance, the 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, such as foraging for food and fighting with each other, and it wins by jumping for a long time and at a fast speed. 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 various formations. Generally, they sing about twelve months of labor, and sometimes they also perform certain storylines.
7. Cannon Yan, meaning "the little princess or miss dance." In the past, only in the religious festivals or Tusi 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 Canon light dance.
In addition, in Jinping County, there is also a performance of the labor life of the "Boat Dance", "Picking Flowers Dance", "Fishing Dance", "Walking Dance", etc., passed down in Jinping County.
The "Elephant Dance" circulating in the Mengding area of Gengma County is called "Jar Zhang" in Dai language. By the two sets of elephant-shaped props, imitating the elephant walk, salute and other actions, by a person holding a red handkerchief to lead the elephant and dance.
Popular in Xishuangbanna "women's dance", light and soft.
Popular in Ruili County, "Jialuo sound", is a kind of imitation bird dance, the same as the small peacock dance.
The "Jarrow Rattle", popular in Ruili County, is a dance that imitates the dance of a bird, the same as the small peacock dance.