China’s captivating ‘heroes’ dance blends kung-fu and opera
2 months ago

China’s captivating ‘heroes’ dance blends kung-fu and opera

The Hindu  

With painted faces and vivid costumes, 40 young dancers leap through the streets of Shantou in southern China to the sound of gongs and drums as hundreds of spectators watch. A mix of martial arts and Chinese opera, this traditional dance of "heroes" with ancient roots still lights up parts of Guangdong province ahead of the Lunar New Year. Often performed during Lunar New Year celebrations or other festive events to bring good luck, it is derived from legendary tales, including the classic Ming dynasty Chinese novel "Water Margin". "It's probably because young people today often go to work elsewhere than in their native region and no longer pass on traditions as well," said Hua Jie, 52. 130,000 viewers The Yingge dance was performed for Xiaonian -- literally "little year" -- the traditional start of New Year preparations, an opportunity to hang red decorations symbolising happiness and to clean one's home.

Dance China Traditional Culture Chinese New Year Shantou  young  captivating  yingge  blends  chinese  shantou  heroes  zheng  chinas  dance  china  opera  watch  traditional  kungfu

History of this topic

Market vitality fueling growth, novel trends
1 month ago

Market vitality fueling growth, novel trends

China Daily  

A Yingge dance team performs during an event to celebrate Spring Festival in Shantou, Guangdong province, on Feb 2. YAO JUN/XINHUA BEIJING — While insufficient domestic demand remains a challenge, China has seen its consumption sector, a key driver of economic growth, unleash more vitality in recent months, with hustle and bustle in the market and new demand fueling and …

Market vitality fueling growth, novel trends
1 month ago

Market vitality fueling growth, novel trends

China Daily  

A Yingge dance team performs during an event to celebrate Spring Festival in Shantou, Guangdong province, on Feb 2. YAO JUN/XINHUA BEIJING — While insufficient domestic demand remains a challenge, China has seen its consumption sector, a key driver of economic growth, unleash more vitality in recent months, with hustle and bustle in the market and new demand fueling and …

China's Yingge dance, a mix of half martial art and half theatre is truly a vibrant cultural gem: See pics
2 months ago

China's Yingge dance, a mix of half martial art and half theatre is truly a vibrant cultural gem: See pics

Hindustan Times  

China's Yingge dance, a mix of half martial art and half theatre is truly a vibrant cultural gem: See pics China's Yingge dance is a vibrant mix of martial arts and theatre, showcasing rich cultural heritage through energetic moves and colourful performances.. 1 / 8 View Photos in a new improved layout In China, there's a traditional dance called Yingge …

Half kung-fu, half opera: China's captivating 'heroes' dance
2 months ago

Half kung-fu, half opera: China's captivating 'heroes' dance

Raw Story  

by Ludovic EHRET With painted faces and vivid costumes, 40 young dancers leap through the streets of Shantou in southern China to the sound of gongs and drums as hundreds of spectators watch. A mix of martial arts and Chinese opera, this traditional dance of "heroes" with ancient roots still lights up parts of Guangdong province ahead of the Lunar …

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead
2 months, 1 week ago

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead

China Daily  

At the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, dancers put on a synchronized show of hands during Qianshou Guanyin. Dance drama Qianshou Guanyin has long been etched in the hearts of the Chinese people as a brilliant cultural symbol. On New Year's Eve, a revamped version of this famous performance premiered at the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi …

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead
2 months, 1 week ago

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead

China Daily  

At the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, dancers put on a synchronized show of hands during Qianshou Guanyin. Dance drama Qianshou Guanyin has long been etched in the hearts of the Chinese people as a brilliant cultural symbol. On New Year's Eve, a revamped version of this famous performance premiered at the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi …

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead

China Daily  

At the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, dancers put on a synchronized show of hands during Qianshou Guanyin. Dance drama Qianshou Guanyin has long been etched in the hearts of the Chinese people as a brilliant cultural symbol. On New Year's Eve, a revamped version of this famous performance premiered at the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi …

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Dance drama sets scene for year ahead

China Daily  

At the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi province, dancers put on a synchronized show of hands during Qianshou Guanyin. Dance drama Qianshou Guanyin has long been etched in the hearts of the Chinese people as a brilliant cultural symbol. On New Year's Eve, a revamped version of this famous performance premiered at the Shanxi Grand Theater in Taiyuan, Shanxi …

Displaying Chinese aesthetics in Hong Kong stage performance
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Displaying Chinese aesthetics in Hong Kong stage performance

China Daily  

A scene from the dance drama He and The Rite of Spring when it was brought to Shanghai by the Miranda Chin Dance Company in April. To the music of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, nearly 20 Hong Kong dancers put on a display of the shared origin of martial arts and dance through demonstrations of martial arts including tai …

Displaying Chinese aesthetics in Hong Kong stage performance
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Displaying Chinese aesthetics in Hong Kong stage performance

China Daily  

A scene from the dance drama He and The Rite of Spring when it was brought to Shanghai by the Miranda Chin Dance Company in April. To the music of Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring, nearly 20 Hong Kong dancers put on a display of the shared origin of martial arts and dance through demonstrations of martial arts including tai …

Festival dazzles with dance dramas
8 months ago

Festival dazzles with dance dramas

China Daily  

A scene from A Dream of Red Mansions. The seventh edition of the Xi'an International Dance Festival opened on Monday, with 12 dance dramas staged through 37 shows at Shaanxi Opera House and Kai Yuan Theater in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The festival opened with A Dream of Red Mansions, an original dance drama by the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing …

Festival dazzles with dance dramas
8 months ago

Festival dazzles with dance dramas

China Daily  

A scene from A Dream of Red Mansions. The seventh edition of the Xi'an International Dance Festival opened on Monday, with 12 dance dramas staged through 37 shows at Shaanxi Opera House and Kai Yuan Theater in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The festival opened with A Dream of Red Mansions, an original dance drama by the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing …

Festival dazzles with dance dramas
8 months ago

Festival dazzles with dance dramas

China Daily  

A scene from A Dream of Red Mansions. The seventh edition of the Xi'an International Dance Festival opened on Monday, with 12 dance dramas staged through 37 shows at Shaanxi Opera House and Kai Yuan Theater in Xi'an, Shaanxi province. The festival opened with A Dream of Red Mansions, an original dance drama by the Jiangsu Centre for the Performing …

Dancing, motionlessly, through time
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Dancing, motionlessly, through time

China Daily  

Students from the Beijing Dance Academy perform Xianghe Ge, adapted from a traditional Han Dynasty dance, in Beijing on May 14. It was a re-created dance piece performed by female students of the Beijing Dance Academy and by choreographer Sun Ying that later featured in the popular TV show, Wu Qiannian, coproduced by Henan TV and Chinese video platform Bilibili …

Dancing, motionlessly, through time
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Dancing, motionlessly, through time

China Daily  

Students from the Beijing Dance Academy perform Xianghe Ge, adapted from a traditional Han Dynasty dance, in Beijing on May 14. It was a re-created dance piece performed by female students of the Beijing Dance Academy and by choreographer Sun Ying that later featured in the popular TV show, Wu Qiannian, coproduced by Henan TV and Chinese video platform Bilibili …

Tibetan folk dance unites youth with charm
10 months, 3 weeks ago

Tibetan folk dance unites youth with charm

China Daily  

While square dancing is a popular pastime for seniors across much of China, in the southwestern Xizang autonomous region, young people are fervently embracing their heritage, amidst the stunning backdrop of traditional Tibetan folk dance, Guozhuang. For 18-year-old Kunzang Wangdu, sharing his passion for Guozhuang dance is as simple as posting dance videos on social media. I have posted my …

Young people drawn increasingly to cherished traditions
1 year ago

Young people drawn increasingly to cherished traditions

China Daily  

By Zhao Ruinan in Nanchang | China Daily | Updated: 2024-03-18 06:31 A Yingge dance troupe from Shantou, Guangdong province, performs in the city on Feb 14. Her interest in traditional Chinese culture was kindled after she watched short videos featuring Yingge Dance, a folk dance with a 300-year history from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong province. Performers undergo rigorous …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Performances of Puning Yingge dance feature not only electrifying action but also colorful and exciting costumes. Performers take 300-year-old warriors' dance to Europe for the first time as part of UK's Chinese festivities, report Zheng Wanyin and Wang Linyan in London. For more than a month, Chen Jinxiang, a villager from Puning, a city in South China's Guangdong province, had …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Spectators take photos with dancers during the Chinese New Year parade in London. Just like Chen Jinxiang, many members of the dance team are not full-time performers but ordinary villagers who make their living by doing a wide range of jobs, including managing small businesses, Chen Laifa says. Hard work and dedication have been keeping Puning Yingge dance vibrant in …

Young people drawn increasingly to cherished traditions
1 year ago

Young people drawn increasingly to cherished traditions

China Daily  

A Yingge dance troupe from Shantou, Guangdong province, performs in the city on Feb 14. Her interest in traditional Chinese culture was kindled after she watched short videos featuring Yingge Dance, a folk dance with a 300-year history from the Chaoshan region of Guangdong province. Performers undergo rigorous training from a young age, and during Spring Festival, performance teams in …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Performances of Puning Yingge dance feature not only electrifying action but also colorful and exciting costumes. Performers take 300-year-old warriors' dance to Europe for the first time as part of UK's Chinese festivities, report Zheng Wanyin and Wang Linyan in London. For more than a month, Chen Jinxiang, a villager from Puning, a city in South China's Guangdong province, had …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Performances of Puning Yingge dance feature not only electrifying action but also colorful and exciting costumes. Performers take 300-year-old warriors' dance to Europe for the first time as part of UK's Chinese festivities, report Zheng Wanyin and Wang Linyan in London. For more than a month, Chen Jinxiang, a villager from Puning, a city in South China's Guangdong province, had …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Performances of Puning Yingge dance feature not only electrifying action but also colorful and exciting costumes. Performers take 300-year-old warriors' dance to Europe for the first time as part of UK's Chinese festivities, report Zheng Wanyin and Wang Linyan in London. For more than a month, Chen Jinxiang, a villager from Puning, a city in South China's Guangdong province, had …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Performances of Puning Yingge dance feature not only electrifying action but also colorful and exciting costumes. Performers take 300-year-old warriors' dance to Europe for the first time as part of UK's Chinese festivities, report Zheng Wanyin and Wang Linyan in London. For more than a month, Chen Jinxiang, a villager from Puning, a city in South China's Guangdong province, had …

A show of fighting spirit
1 year ago

A show of fighting spirit

China Daily  

Spectators take photos with dancers during the Chinese New Year parade in London. Just like Chen Jinxiang, many members of the dance team are not full-time performers but ordinary villagers who make their living by doing a wide range of jobs, including managing small businesses, Chen Laifa says. Hard work and dedication have been keeping Puning Yingge dance vibrant in …

A complex family legacy
1 year, 10 months ago

A complex family legacy

China Daily  

A Yingge dance troupe from Chaoyang district perform in the ancestral hall of demao nei near the ancient port of Zhanglin, in Chenghai district of Shantou, Guangdong province, on April 2. CHINA DAILY Dance hall Cai Haisong, an expert in traditional Chaoshan-style architecture, once told Chen Ye that very unusually, demao nei has been kept in use for a century, …

A complex family legacy
1 year, 10 months ago

A complex family legacy

China Daily  

A Yingge dance troupe from Chaoyang district perform in the ancestral hall of demao nei near the ancient port of Zhanglin, in Chenghai district of Shantou, Guangdong province, on April 2. CHINA DAILY Dance hall Cai Haisong, an expert in traditional Chaoshan-style architecture, once told Chen Ye that very unusually, demao nei has been kept in use for a century, …

Traditional warrior dance now welcomes all
2 years, 1 month ago

Traditional warrior dance now welcomes all

China Daily  

GUANGZHOU — Clad in a black costume and brandishing a black-and-white serpent prop, Chen Zhihui led dozens of performers through a mesmerizing dance as they rhythmically struck drumsticks together in unison. WU CIXIN/FOR CHINA DAILY "Despite the physical demands, more and more young people are joining our team out of a love for traditional culture," he said. "Practicing Yingge not …

Yantai celebrates festival with folk dance
2 years, 1 month ago

Yantai celebrates festival with folk dance

China Daily  

Recently, a grand yangko was performed on the streets of Penglai district in Yantai to celebrate Spring Festival, China's most important holiday. Folk performances add to the festive atmosphere in Penglai district in Yantai on Jan 27. Local residents perform rural folk dances, such as yangko to the rhythm of drums and gongs to celebrate Chinese New Year in Penglai …

Dance production shows history of revolutionary base
2 years, 4 months ago

Dance production shows history of revolutionary base

China Daily  

Students of Beijing Dance Academy recite a poem Back to Yan'anby Chinese writer He Jingzhi published in 1956. On Oct 30, teachers and students of Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department of Beijing Dance Academy, who created and perform in the new dance drama, gathered at the school to celebrate the upcoming premiere of the new dance piece. According to …

Dance production shows history of revolutionary base
2 years, 4 months ago

Dance production shows history of revolutionary base

China Daily  

Students of Beijing Dance Academy recite a poem Back to Yan'anby Chinese writer He Jingzhi published in 1956. On Oct 30, teachers and students of Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance Department of Beijing Dance Academy, who created and perform in the new dance drama, gathered at the school to celebrate the upcoming premiere of the new dance piece. According to …

A dance through time
3 years ago

A dance through time

China Daily  

The girls, dressed in blue and green clothes, dance with a swaying posture, exuding a combination of charm and elegance. It comes from Poetic Dance: The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting, a dance drama based on The Vast Land,, Wang Ximeng's famous painting from the Song Dynasty. On New Year's Eve, after the women's group dance on China Central …

Classic dance performed in Weifang
3 years, 7 months ago

Classic dance performed in Weifang

China Daily  

Performers wearing ancient Chinese costumes gave a classic dancing performance on the evening of July 31 at the cultural blocks of Shihu Garden in Weifang, Shandong province. Dancers in ancient Chinese costume stage a traditional dance performance at the cultural blocks of Shihu Garden in Weifang, Shandong province on July 31. A traditional Chinese dancing performance attracts a large audience …

Classic dance performed in Weifang
3 years, 7 months ago

Classic dance performed in Weifang

China Daily  

Performers wearing ancient Chinese costumes gave a classic dancing performance on the evening of July 31 at the cultural blocks of Shihu Garden in Weifang, Shandong province. Dancers in ancient Chinese costume stage a traditional dance performance at the cultural blocks of Shihu Garden in Weifang, Shandong province on July 31. A traditional Chinese dancing performance attracts a large audience …

Classic Chinese tales thrive in modern times
4 years ago

Classic Chinese tales thrive in modern times

China Daily  

Visitors dressed in traditional Chinese costumes check out ancient statues displayed at an exhibition to commemorate the 270th anniversary of the Summer Palace construction in Beijing in September. Last month, as numerous TV stations around the country made their own galas for the Spring Festival season, A Tang Dynasty Banquet, a five-minute-long dance on Henan TV featuring cultural relics, was …

Traditional Tibetan folk dance glows with new vitality
4 years, 4 months ago

Traditional Tibetan folk dance glows with new vitality

China Daily  

The State Council listed Xianzi Dance as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Despite being a veteran performer of the traditional Xianzi Dance, 58-year-old Tashi Wangdu had never staged a performance in front of a big audience. Xianzi Dance is a kind of folk art that combines song, dance and string music in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, with …

Traditional Tibetan folk dance glows with new vitality
4 years, 4 months ago

Traditional Tibetan folk dance glows with new vitality

China Daily  

The State Council listed Xianzi Dance as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Despite being a veteran performer of the traditional Xianzi Dance, 58-year-old Tashi Wangdu had never staged a performance in front of a big audience. Xianzi Dance is a kind of folk art that combines song, dance and string music in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, with …

Gala spotlights rising stars in Chinese contemporary dance
5 years, 3 months ago

Gala spotlights rising stars in Chinese contemporary dance

China Daily  

Dancers are seen in silhouette in a scene from the dancing piece Don't I Know You. From The Martial Dance that adds a modern touch to traditional Chinese kung fu to Sacrifice that mixes ballet with modern dance, from Inside that digs deeply into complicated human emotions of loneliness and love, to 32 Chapters that seeks an answer in the …

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover
5 years, 9 months ago

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover

China Daily  

The protagonist Liu Sanjie is portrayed by young dancer Wang Qian. Among the myths and legends of the Zhuang ethnic group, Liu Sanjie, a folk singer known as the "Song Fairy", is perhaps one of their most iconic figures. Stories about the Song Fairy have many versions and have been adapted into various productions for stage and cinema, one of …

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover
5 years, 9 months ago

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover

China Daily  

The protagonist Liu Sanjie is portrayed by young dancer Wang Qian. Among the myths and legends of the Zhuang ethnic group, Liu Sanjie, a folk singer known as the "Song Fairy", is perhaps one of their most iconic figures. Stories about the Song Fairy have many versions and have been adapted into various productions for stage and cinema, one of …

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover
5 years, 9 months ago

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover

China Daily  

Dance drama Liu Sanjie incorporates modern dance styles to present antagonists in a comical way. Huang Wanqiu, the original actress who portrayed the titular character in the film Liu Sanjie, is working on the production as an artistic consultant, and she acknowledges it as "a treasure of China's dance drama". "The cast are using their creative dance styles to portray …

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover
5 years, 9 months ago

Chinese folk legend Liu Sanjie gets modern dance makeover

China Daily  

The protagonist Liu Sanjie is portrayed by young dancer Wang Qian. Among the myths and legends of the Zhuang ethnic group, Liu Sanjie, a folk singer known as the "Song Fairy", is perhaps one of their most iconic figures. Stories about the Song Fairy have many versions and have been adapted into various productions for stage and cinema, one of …

Chinese dancers are adding cultural elements for local flavor
6 years, 8 months ago

Chinese dancers are adding cultural elements for local flavor

China Daily  

Many zhaiwu practitioners, such as Xiao Na and Yueming, have adapted the dance of Japanese origin to Chinese culture. While the trend originated in Japan and refers to a dance that is based on pop culture, particularly online, many zhaiwu practitioners in China are adapting it to Chinese culture. "I'm obsessed with the combination of dynamic rhythm and ancient Chinese …

Chinese dancers are adding cultural elements for local flavor
6 years, 8 months ago

Chinese dancers are adding cultural elements for local flavor

China Daily  

Many zhaiwu practitioners, such as Xiao Na and Yueming, have adapted the dance of Japanese origin to Chinese culture. While the trend originated in Japan and refers to a dance that is based on pop culture, particularly online, many zhaiwu practitioners in China are adapting it to Chinese culture. "I'm obsessed with the combination of dynamic rhythm and ancient Chinese …

Inheriting folk art: Chinese dancer Yang Liping's art session in Singapore
7 years, 2 months ago

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

China Daily  

Chinese dancer and choreographer Yang Liping speaks at her lecture on Impression of Yunnan at the China Cultural Center in Singapore, Jan 16, 2018. 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 …

Dance drama celebrates heroic Chinese emperor
7 years, 9 months ago

Dance drama celebrates heroic Chinese emperor

China Daily  

A scene from King Yu While there are many superhero movies playing in the local multiplex, Chinese dance drama director Wang Ge hopes to showcase Chinese heroes onstage. In his latest work, King Yu, Wang tells the story of Emperor Yu, who tamed the flooded Yellow River by dredging and rearranging the channels, and launching the Xia Dynasty, China's first …

Dance drama celebrates heroic Chinese emperor
7 years, 9 months ago

Dance drama celebrates heroic Chinese emperor

China Daily  

A scene from King Yu While there are many superhero movies playing in the local multiplex, Chinese dance drama director Wang Ge hopes to showcase Chinese heroes onstage. In his latest work, King Yu, Wang tells the story of Emperor Yu, who tamed the flooded Yellow River by dredging and rearranging the channels, and launching the Xia Dynasty, China's first …

Dance drama celebrates heroic Chinese emperor
7 years, 9 months ago

Dance drama celebrates heroic Chinese emperor

China Daily  

A scene from King Yu While there are many superhero movies playing in the local multiplex, Chinese dance drama director Wang Ge hopes to showcase Chinese heroes onstage. In his latest work, King Yu, Wang tells the story of Emperor Yu, who tamed the flooded Yellow River by dredging and rearranging the channels, and launching the Xia Dynasty, China's first …

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