Dances show Lahu zest in pursuing happiness

Lancang County is home to the reed and swing dances of the Lahu ethnic group in southwest Yunnan’s Pu'er City.

Lahu dance is popular in the townships close to Dai ethnicity areas such as Donglang, Jiujing, Nuofu, Donghui and more. The dance is similar to the Dai ethnic dance because of the influence of Dai music.

The dance originated from the daily life of the Lahu people. During the dance, the lead dancers demonstrate and play the instruments. The rest of the participants dance to the rhythm and follow the movements of the lead dancers.

The Lahu people dance to warship gods, celebrate good harvests and pray for peace and happiness in the coming year.

The forms are flexible and diverse. You can dance in circles or lines. In 2006, Lahu dance was inscribed as intangible cultural heritage in Yunnan.

Reporting by Zhu Zheng (Pu’er Culture and Tourism Bureau); Photos by Pu’er Heritage Center; Trans-editing by Mo Yingyi