Peacock dance - Chinese folk dance

"Peacock Dance" is the best-known traditional folk dance of China's Dai ethnic minority. It enjoys great popularity in Dai-inhabited regions such as Xishuangbanna and Taihong Tai and Jingpo autonomous districts.

According to legend, more than 1,000 years ago, the ruler of the Dai people, Chaomali Tseshu, imitated the magnificent movements of the peacock in the dance. Thanks to the efforts of dancers, masters of past centuries, who modernized and improved this dance, it has taken its final form and is being passed down from generation to generation.

Representatives of the Dai nation regard the "Peacock Dance" as a symbol of good fortune and happiness. It can be seen at every folk festival. Where there are large concentrations of Dai, almost every month there is some kind of festival where people dance and sing folk songs.

During annual dais festivals, such as the "water pouring festival," the "door closing festival," the "door opening festival," and the "temple fair," crowds of people gather everywhere. They beat a huge gong and drum and dance the "peacock dance," performing beautiful figures.

Through these songs and dances, they show their joy for a good harvest, while emphasizing national ties.

The dance has a rather strict order of performance. As a rule, it begins with the exit of the peacock, or the dancer who imitates it, onto the stage. The peacock spins around and dances on the lawn. Then he drinks water and looks for food, and finally - takes a bath in the fountain. After bathing, the peacock shakes off the water, spreads its magnificent feathers and flies away.

The "Peacock Dance" usually features one performer, and sometimes there are two. Most of the dancers are men. "Peacock Dance" consists of a variety of dance gestures, leaps and turns. It is characterized by fast, fluid and plastic movements of the legs, as well as eloquent glances. The hands are not forgotten either; the movements of the wrists and fingers are very reminiscent of the movements of a peacock.

The dancer's body trembles and bends to form a figure similar to the letter "S." The gestures symbolize "running downhill," "peeping in the woods," "walking in the woods," "flapping wings," "muscling the surface of the water." Through these gestures, the dancer conveys the peacock's innate grace.

Light and soft movements, beautiful costumes, expression of subtle feelings - this is the essence of the "Peacock Dance". It represents the quintessence of the culture of the Dai nation developed over centuries and has great aesthetic value.

In 2006, the "Peacock Dance" was included in the list of China's national cultural heritage.