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Introduction of Chinese Dances

Chinese dances are mainly divided into two groups: Chinese ethnic & folk dances and Chinese classical (traditional) dances. Chinese folk dances include many different styles as there are fifty-six different ethnic groups in Chinese territory and each of them has their own dance style. The same group may have a large variety of different dance styles due to geographical differences. Chinese classical dances are ancient traditional Chinese dances and there are many different styles due to the five thousand years history and over ten different dynasties. Sometimes it is easy to tell the difference of each type by the costumes, props used and the music. Most classical dances are remade within the last century with reference to historic books and paintings. Nowadays some modern Chinese dancers also try to add Chinese dance elements into ballet and modern contemporary dance and there are some great successes of the composition.

Chinese Classical Dance

<Tage> The Chinese classical dance of Han & Tang Dynasty – Group dance

‘Ta Ge’ literally means ‘tapping with the song’. The dance involves tapping the ground with feet rhythmically. The mixture of singing and dancing is an ancient popular form of dance from royal families to the peasants. The original dance form in Han Group area has been lost nowadays, whilst some rural minority group areas still have it. This dance is made in a style of Wei, Jin Dynasty and Nan Chao period (220-589 BC) in ancient Han River and Qin Huai areas referencing some dance paintings from cultural relic. These young girls wave the long sleeves and dance airily with the elegant ancient love song.
<Chu Yao>The Chinese classical dance of Chu Group dance
<Flying Fairy Ladies> Group dance | solo

Flying fairy ladies are legendary images that appear in Buddhist paintings, particularly those in China’s famous Dunhuang caves

Chinese Minorities Ethnic Dance

< Exquisite Huadan > Sichuan Opera dance – Group dance

‘Huadan’ is the name for the role of naughty young girl in Chinese Opera. Sichuan Opera is a symbolism of Sichuan province in the southwest in China. This dance collaborates with Sichuan Opera from the music to the costume, showing the training scenes of these young girls who are Sichuan Opera actresses. The extravagant head wear which includes a long feather is a very special aspect of this dance. It moves from side to side when the actress shakes her head in the dance.
<Chili girls> Han Group dance – Group dance

Han Group is the main ethnic group in China. Handkerchiefs are typical Han Group dance props. These girls like eating spicy red chillis and they are hot in personalities. They are Chilli Girls!
<Love song of Kang ding> Dance of the Tibet group – Group dance

Kangding is the political and cultural centre of the Kangba area since ancient time. There are bazaars of tea and horses between Han group and Tibetans, and more importantly, love song contests are held here every year where young people can meet and find their lovers. Boys normally give out keepsakes to the girls who catch their eyes. Girls accept it if they like the boys. This dance shows a group of Tibetan girls coming to the bazaar and luckily one of them finds her favourite voice.
<Mouchu Conzonet> Man group – Group dance


<Xile’s Red Skirt> Yi group – Group dance  

 
<Mt. Tianshan Jubilance> Wei Group -Group dance  

 
<Bamboo grove deep place> Dance of the minority ethnic group Dai – Group dance
 
<Flying peacock> Dance of the minority ethnic group Dai – Group dance
<Wish> Dance of the Tibet group– solo dance  

Buddhism plays a very important part in Tibet. This dance shows a Tibetan girl making a wish with her dance. The majestic music with full of religious features, brings us to the myth of the snow covered plateau.
<sprout>modern dance - solo dance  

sprout on the one hand means newborn of buds. on the other hand means perfect things.
sprout intent spring, the season which vientiane update. As it describeed from a famous litterateur, everything is waking up, opening the eyes.
The dancer uses her body language to awake the sleeping sallow, to bring the crowing birdie and arouse the blooming flowers,the dancer is seeing the quiet of the nature, smelling the colourful of nature and hearing the vivid of nature.
lying into the embrace of beautiful and gentility sunshine.
From the instant impulse into an eternal pursuit.
< Forest rain> Dance of the minority ethnic group Dai – solo dance

Dai Group mainly lives in the southwest area in China where is hot and rainy. Dancers always impersonate peacocks in typical Dai Group dances. In this dance, the girl dances in the forest at the break of dawn playing with her bamboo made hat, and she is enjoying the rain.

Chinese Comtemporary Dance

<Rea fans> Contemporary Han Group dance – Group dance

Fans are always used as props in traditional Han Group dance. This dance is a modern contemporary dance with essential Chinese Han Group dance elements. The song is a traditional Chinese song--Fengyang (name of a place) Huagu (name of a kind of tambourine, also used as the form of dance), but it is played by orchestra. It gives a twist of traditional Chinese folk art and Western modern performing form. Red fans flying gives a very special visual effect in this dance.

Others

<Raise the red lantern> – Ballet

This piece takes from the same name ballet of National Ballet of China, tells a tragedy happened in last century 20's. A young lady compelled to be married as the third wife of her husband. This section represents the sorrow of her when she saw the symbol of her marriage -- red lantern rising. Two ballerina act the fighting between the cruel fact and the her desire of freedom. This is a modern dance with a rich Chinese nationality characteristic.
<Swan lake> Ballet
《天鹅湖》

 

 

 

 

 

 

30/Nov/2006 last updated