Garland Dragon Dance
Garland Dragon Dance
Nominating Unit: Dapu County, City of Meizhou
Garland Dragon Dance has a history of over 100 years in Dapu County, City of Meizhou. It is originated from the Soft Waist Dragon Dance of Xiamahu Village, Chayang township of this county. Later on, it evolved into a dancing form of garland dragon, and widely performed among Chayang, Huliao, and Qingxi townships.
The props used in the Garland Dragon Dance can be categorized into small dragon and big dragon according to the specifications, or into red dragon and green dragon according to the costumes and colors of the dragon body. The red dragon symbolizes good luck and safety, while the green one symbolizes warding off the evil spirit. The dragon body is mostly made up of segmented cylinders, with loops between each two segments. Each loop is fully tied with colored ribbons. During the dance, colored ribbons fl y around, like many garlands rolling about in the sky, hence the name Garland Dragon Dance.
Garland Dragon Dance features a dual dragon dance with red and green dragons. There are many routines, such as “dual dragon fight for the pearl”, “360 degree rotation”, “jumping the pearl”, “lying dragon circling the stage”, “dual dragon sailing out”, “group dragon fl y”, “coiled dragon”, etc. The dance is based on “civil dance” and “martial dance”, and borrows features and techniques from traditional“standing dance”, “riding dance”. The dancers can perform while walking, standing, squatting, kneeing, lying, jumping, circling, or riding, which forms a light and flexible style. The dance is very flexible of its performance locations, may it be big or small, squares or stages, even indoor, or on top of a wall, or a small bridge.(https://www.daowen.com)
The garland dragon of Chayang Township, Dapu County, has its own forms and unique features. In 1999 it was named “Homeland for Ethnic and Folk Art in Guangdong Province”. In 2000 it was named“Homeland for China’s Ethnic and Folk Art”.
Due to many factors, the living condition of garland dragon has undergone great changes, with the cost of props rising up year by year and the aging of craftsmen. Its transmission is faced with great challenges, and urgent protective measures are called for.
