Traditional PaO Dance

The northeast region of Myanmar is home to a number of national groups of the country: Bamar, Shan, Intha, Danu, Pa-O and others, each with its own culture and language, but all living side by side in harmony. Next to the Inthas, the Pa-Os constitute the second largest group in the Inn lay region.

This is the Pa-O traditional dance being performed by a large group of pretty Pa-O damsels. The dance depicts the various activities of (hillside) cultivators as they begin their planting tasks. The lyrics of the song they are singing as they dance are:

Come, come, Young Lads and Maidens:
Mind not, the terrain you have to traverse: uphill, or down, or along steep slopes!
Mind not the weather either: come rain or shine!
Let's just be at our task of tending our crops.
Let's put in all we can.
Let's get everyone involved in this undertaking.
Let's work so that our crops will be lush and green.
Let's work so that there'll be a rich harvest to share.
Come; let's create a happy world for all of us!

Look at the dark dresses the damsels are wearing. These are made from a hand-woven fabric woven on a back -strap loom. And look at their complexion--- so soft and fair!

And last but not least, look at their graceful movements as they sway to the strains of the enchanting music to depict an aspect of cultivation work of the Pa-Os.