Crowds flock to folk dance shows
Performers from across China put their cultures on display at National Yangko Exhibition
"A total of 26 national-level and five provincial-level intangible heritage items were put on display on the same stage," said Zhang Shengbao, chief director of the exhibition. "In the past, we mostly enjoyed the loud, jolly vibe, but now we also value the culture represented by the dances."
The Yingge Dance was among the national-level intangible heritage items seen.
Practiced in the Chaoshan region in Guangdong province and inspired by excerpts from the classic Chinese novel Water Margin, the dance tells a story of how rebels managed to rescue one of their brothers imprisoned by corrupt officials. Dancers wave a pair of short sticks and make powerful and forceful movements, earning the performance the nickname Chinese Battle Dance.
The dance also integrates local elements to enrich the storytelling. Chen Jiahui, 18, portrayed Shi Qian, a sneaky thief in the novel. He said his style of dancing integrated the worship of snakes in Chaoshan and southern Fujian regions.
"I've been learning snake dance for five or six years, and the audience's enthusiasm has moved me," he said, adding that the team put on the show with light costumes despite the cold weather to give the most authentic performance.
The troupe's dedication was also greeted by local yangko groups. The Hengshan Old-style Waist Drum Dance, from Yulin's Hengshan district, was also a star during the exhibition.
Also dubbed the Victory Waist Drum Dance, the routine is known for dynamic and vigorous movements, fast-paced rhythms and diverse choreography, as dancers march forward while smoothly shifting into different formations.
