Inheriting folk art: Chinese dancer Yang Liping's art session in Singapore

An art session on the charm of Chinese folk dance was held at the China Cultural Center in Singapore on Jan 16, attracting more than 300 audience members, including Que Xiaohua, cultural councilor of Chinese embassy in Singapore, and Ma Hongying, director of the Chinese cultural center.

Famous Chinese dancer and choreographer Yang Liping shared stories behind her dancing piece Impression of Yunnan - a large song and dance collection that re-integrates folk songs and dances in Southwest China's Yunnan province with other ethnic Chinese dances. More than 70 percent performers of the dance show are from ethnic groups across Yunnan villages.

Sharing her motivations of choreography, Yang said, "After I returned to my hometown Yunnan from China Ethic Song & Dane Ensemble (years ago), I visited many villages to look for inspirations of new choreographies but [was sad to] find that many traditional songs, dances and musical instruments were on the verge of disappearing." She added it was regrettable that the folk cultures were gradually lost during the process of urbanization.