Xiangxi Miao ethnic group drum dance
Maogusi dance of the the Tujia ethnic group in west Hunan Hand-waving dance of Tujia people Hunan dancing arts are known for their long history and unique artistic style. According to statistics, Hunan has more than 400 types of dance and thousands of plays that incorporate dances.
Hunan folk dance grew out of the Chu culture and Hunan aboriginal culture. During the Tang dynasty (AD 618-907), famous court dances, such as "Green Twist", "White Hideous Dance", and "Cudrania Branch Dance" were spread to Hunan. After seeing the "Green Twist" dance performed by the southern beauties of Changsha, Li qunyu, a great poet of the Tang dynasty, wrote a poem describing the dance. These dances were merged with local Chu dancing and the folk dancing of the time, finally developing into the distinctive and diversified forms of dance now seen in Hunan.
Since ancient times, many ethnic groups have been living in Hunan province, including the Miao, Tujia, Dong, Yao, Zhuang, Hui, and Wa ethnic groups. Their distinctive customs, life-styles, and cultural traditions have resulted in various dancing arts.
The Miao dances include works such as "Incense Burning Dance", "Receiving the Dragon Dance", "Shield Dance", "Pioneer Dance", "Tea Tray Dance", "Exorcising Wish Dance", "Duguan Dance (pass a barrier)", "Drum Dance", and "Reed Pipe Dance". Tujia dances include "Hand Waving Dance", "Maogusi (Hairy Hunter's Dance)", "Eight Precious Copper Bells", "Drum Beating Dance", "Horse Racing Dance", "Flag Making Dance", "Chicken Rounding Dance", "Meichang Dance", "Eight Skirts of Thin Silk", and "Funeral Ritual Dance". Dances of the Dong ethnic group include "Dong People's Reed Pipe Dance", "Duo Ye", and "Dongdong Tui". The Yao ethnic group is widely distributed throughout the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hunan, Yunan, Guangdong and Guizhou. Their primary dances include "Umbrella Dance", "Knife Dance", "Shield Dance", "Cavel Short Drum", "Burning Incense Dragon", and the sacrificial dances.
