What are the basic dance styles of Dai folk dance?

What are the basic dance styles of Dai folk dance?

The natural environment, working life, national character and aesthetic concept are integrated into a peaceful and soothing rhythm, which runs through the dance movements. In the action form of Dai folk dance, dancers often keep a semi-squatting dance posture and then shoot down; In a uniform rhythm, the flexion and extension of the knee drives the body to vibrate up and down and gently swing left and right;

The stepping or stamping of dance steps seems to focus downward, but it is heavy lifting and light falling, and the whole foot touches the ground smoothly, which is the basic feature of dynamic rhythm. The rhythm is mostly a continuous rhythm of 2/4 beats, with smooth movements and serene demeanor. Repeat regularly, with few jumps. In this uniform dance rhythm, there is a peacock's light and gentle dance;

There is a stable gait of elephants walking in the forest; Life perception and creation of more dancers. In addition to the rich pace of lower limbs, the dance of hands and upper body is also one of its characteristics. Dai dance has many kinds of gestures, the same gesture, the same action, and different gestures have different dance images and meanings.

Dancers and dance teachers in Yunnan summed up eight "basic gestures of hands" from colorful folk dances when sorting out Dai teaching materials: high and low wings, high wings, flat wings, folded wings and folded wings.

Therefore, Dai dance has both rhythmic beauty and modeling beauty, both dynamic beauty and static beauty. Moreover, these dynamic images are pleasing to the eye and refreshing. Accompanied by musical instruments such as foot drums and cymbals, they flow like rivers and streams.

When it comes to snake bird totem, we will immediately think of the "three bends" in the basic dance of Dai folk dance, the arm movements as soft as water waves, and various beautiful images of peacock dance. Of course, although the formation of this dynamic dance is related to the religious influence of Hinayana Buddhism, it is also related to the hobbies and admiration of princes and nobles.

But the fundamental reason lies in the ancestor's totem worship of snakes and birds two thousand years ago and the national aesthetic psychology that gradually developed and deepened from it. Some archaeologists in Yunnan believe: "Today's Dai dance has a long history if traced back to its source.

Their graceful dance movements can be found in historical relics unearthed in Yunnan. "The dance movements on the unearthed cultural relics in Shizhai, Jinning, Yunnan, are like the three dance styles of the Dai people today; The image of a slave displayed on bronze cultural relics in the early Western Han Dynasty is the same as that of unmarried Dai women today.

From the bird totem of the ancient Yue people to the peacock worship of the Dai people today, it is the development of national life and national psychology for thousands of years. Because this area is suitable for the growth and reproduction of peacocks, Dai people were able to observe peacocks carefully, so as to create art in peacock dance, and later incorporated religious factors.

Peacock's natural form also has the characteristics of three bends. When a peacock stands on a high place or perches on a tree fork, its long tail feathers hang down in the shape of three bends. From the perspective of natural science, the characteristics of three bends and three bends are more distinct.

After artistic processing, the peacock image is not only in the dance, but also in Dai brocade and ornaments, and the peacock pattern is mostly the image of three bends.

For example, Yang li Ping directed and performed The Spirit of the Sparrow, which used slender and flexible arms and flexible finger posture, especially the magical rhythm and layered rhythm of each joint of the arm, to create a noble, pure and enthusiastic image and truth, goodness and beauty.

Each group of movements embodies the "three bends". Now, Dai people don't like snakes, but they didn't like them in ancient times. At that time, snakes, like water, were objects of worship. There is a description of water as a snake in the ancient songs of the Dai people. For example, "Water Song": "There is a small river at the top of the mountain, which flows through the Woods. The water is rushing like a snake."

This poem not only describes snakes as clear water, but also reflects the living environment in the mountains. Of course, today's three-bend posture and curved arm are far from natural simulation of snakes, birds and water, but the crystallization and sublimation of the wisdom of the masses for thousands of years. The terrain in Yunnan is very complex, and the mountainous plateau accounts for more than 93% of the province's area.

Although the Dai people live on the flat dam between the upstream valleys, the dynamic characteristics of the mountains are also reflected in people's working life. Especially for women, when carrying water, grain and fields, gait and body dynamics have the characteristics of smooth edges.

For example, Dai people used to raise fields after autumn harvest without windmills, but held a big bamboo fan in each hand and sifted rice by the fan. This screening method is a unique dynamic. When their right hand holds the fan high, their right foot is bent and lifted high, and then their hands and feet are fanned hard at the same time, and their bodies turn from right to left;

When the left hand is fanned, the posture and rotation are consistent with the right hand, and both hands and feet are on the same side. As a smooth edge of dance style, it is also related to aesthetic taste. In the past, we talked more about the "three bends" and the bending of each joint of the arm, ignoring the characteristics of the hand and foot.

Tracing back to the source, the former originated from the ancient Baiyue people's "snake bird totem worship" and deep feelings for water. The beauty of a smooth border comes from the work and life in the plateau area. The posture formed after the integration of the two is the dance modeling with Dai characteristics.

For example, at the beginning of the dance "Water", the heroine comes with water leisurely, which has the characteristics of three bends and one smoothness. Especially in the middle part of washing her hair, she knelt by the water and spread her waterfall-like hair, which made this feature more prominent. The posture of "three bends" is not limited to Dai people.

This is also true in many minority dances, even in the female dances of the Han nationality, such as Jiaozhou Yangko, Yunnan Lantern and Anhui Flower Drum Lantern. If we look for its source, it can be said that it is the aesthetic heritage of Baiyue people and one of the characteristics of rice culture and folk dance.

Yishunbian is a unique dynamic law and form of plateau dance, and this cultural phenomenon exists in the dance of plateau nationalities. The style and characteristics of Dai folk dance are reflected in the unique peaceful and soothing rhythm of Dai people after the integration of three bends and one flat edge, which has become the visualization of national aesthetic interest and dancers' psychological activities.

This beautiful dynamic image can be seen in dancing for self-entertainment, performing on the stage or large-scale parade. In a word, Dai dance art is the carrier of the legacy of ancient Yue and the expression of the unique national culture-water culture.

The natural scenery of harmony between man and nature and picturesque natural environment gave birth to the fresh and elegant Dai dance art; The long historical background and simple national style have created a unique Dai dance art.

In addition, for thousands of years, the Dai people have been constantly feeling and innovating in their life and practice, which has made the Dai dance art reach the artistic realm of harmony between man and nature and become one of the unique and well-known national dance art forms today.