How did Chaoshan song and dance come from?

We can talk about the "Daguzi Yangko" in northern Shandong, the "Liulin Yangko" in western Shandong, the "overlord whip" in ancient paintings in Henan, the flower drum dance in Putian, Fujian and so on.

Southern folk dance is characterized by lightness and grace. However, in a corner of the coastal area of eastern Guangdong, there is a kind of song and dance, which can only be compared with the vigorous waist drum in northern Shaanxi, reflecting the heavy feeling of the yellow land.

Artistic features:

Folk art has different regional characteristics. If "English songs" are mentioned, people will naturally think of "English songs" in Chaoshan area of Guangdong Province. In Chaoshan area, Puning "Ying Ge", known as the "hometown of singing and dancing", is the most famous. Puning's "Ying Ge" combines dance, Nanquan routines and opera performances more prominently than other places.

I saw the performers waving colorful wooden sticks in both hands, constantly turning and beating, jumping while walking, step by step, 18 sets of queues changed like "Long Snake Forward" or "Shuanglong Going to Sea", just like group gymnastics connected by traditional martial arts. The atmosphere of the whole performance was full of joy and enthusiasm, which was dizzying.

Guangdong's "Ying Ge" performance is not only related to the "Yangko" in the north, but also endowed by the local people with the function of exorcising evil spirits and filth for the people. The local people believe that performing "English songs" at the beginning of the Spring Festival will definitely ward off evil spirits, welcome the new year, make money and treasure, and make the six animals prosperous and business prosperous.

In order to give performers special power, they worship their ancestors and gods in the ancestral hall of their village before their first performance every year. After performing for his ancestors, he threw a rooster out of the ancestral temple, immediately fired his gun, lined up in the direction where the rooster flew down, and began to perform song and dance performances in the streets and alleys.