The Peacock Dance is the most famous traditional performing dance among the Dai folk dances in China, which is spread in Ruili, Luxi and Xishuangbanna of Dehong Dai Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province, Mengding, Menglian, Jinggu, Canyuan and other Dai inhabited areas, among which the Peacock Dance (Galaoyong in Dai language) of Ruili in the western part of Yunnan Province has the most representativeness.
In the minds of the Dai people, the peacock is a symbol of happiness and good fortune. Not only do many people keep peacocks in their homes, but they also regard the peacock as a symbol of goodness, wisdom, beauty, good fortune and happiness. Among the many kinds of Dai dances, the peacock dance is one of the most favorite and familiar dances, and also one of the dances with the greatest changes and development.
The Peacock Dance of the Dai folk tradition has a long history and has been incorporated into the rituals of religion. Peacock Dance is the favorite folk dance of the Dai people. In the dam area where the Dai people live, there are almost monthly "pendulums" (festivals), and there are songs and dances every year. In the Dai annual "Water Festival", "Shutdown Festival", "Open Door Festival", "Catch Pendulum" and other folk festivals, as long as it is a happy place, the Dai people will gather together, ringing the gongs, playing the drums with elephant feet, jumping up the beautiful "Peacock Dance", the sound of songs and dances show the joyful atmosphere of the harvest and the beautiful scene of national unity.