Jingpo sword dance opens Yunnan traditional ethnic sports games

On Saturday, a group of dancers captivated an audience in Kunming, Yunnan province, with a contemporary take on the traditional Jingpo sword dance.

At the opening ceremony of Yunnan's 13th Traditional Sports Games of Ethnic Minorities, Yuan Zhiping, a principal dancer in the Yunnan Provincial Song and Dance Ensemble, led a troupe in a sword dance performance set to the rhythm of Munao Zongge, a traditional festival and art form of the Jingpo ethnic group.

Clad in a black suit and brandishing a long sword, Yuan matched the beat with powerful grace, showcasing a seamless blend of tradition and modernity.

In July, Yuan's sword dance at the closing ceremony of the Yunnan City Soccer League, also known as Dianchao, went viral online.