Kinnara & Kinnari (Peacock & Peahen) Dance of Tai Khampti

Kinnara and Kinnari are male and female, respectively, mythological creatures who have a human head and body but otherwise are birds. The dances are dramatizations of these two creatures. One of the most well-known dances tells the tale of their true love. Naturally, the performers mimic graceful birds in this choreographed, delicate dance. Costumes for this dance include wings attached to the dancers wrists. The dance of bird-like movements is very supple and fine, and intricately coordinated with the accompanying music.
The Kinnara and Kinnari (male & female) dance conveys the rich and the extravagance of Tai Khampti culture throughout the world. The dance in the Tai Khampti culture is an expression of the myths and legends of its rich culture. The peacock dance is an important folk dance of the Tai Khampti people.The peacock dance is the most popular form of folk dance of the Tai Khampti. It is performed on the eve of  the celebration of Tai New year and Buddhist festivals.
 The peacock dance involves the basic movements of the body with hand gestures. The dance is an imitation of the movements of the peacock. The dance includes typical movements of the peacock like spreading its wings, running over the open space and hills, fluttering of the wings, drinking, playing in the water and flying freely in the open sky. The dance can be performed alone or in a group of one or two. The dance has a variety of appearances with a fixed posture of the imitation of the movements of peacock.
The peacock dance can be classified into two types: the peahen and the peacock. The peahen dance is followed with slow and a light drumbeat. The dance is performed by male dancers with attractive and refined movements. The dancer moves the chest and the shoulder to display the delicate movements of the peacock. It also makes use of the knees. The movement of the knee is slowly raised and lowered imitating that of the peacock
 The peacock is associated with the symbol of happiness and luck in the Tai Khampti culture. The beauty of the movements of the dance creates everlasting feelings to the people.