What is Lusheng Dance?

Lusheng dance is a dance form with a long history. In ancient legends, the survival and reproduction of human beings are often related to gourds. In the Book of Songs, "a gentleman holds the spring to the left" is the earliest description of sheng-spring dance. Later, it gradually developed into the present Lusheng. Lusheng dance is the most representative folk dance of Miao nationality and the favorite folk dance of Miao people. The famous unofficial history in Nanshao written by Niluo records that "in the year of Meng, men play the lusheng, and women dance shoulder to shoulder, enjoying it". There is a poem in "Qian Miao's Poetry Talk" as proof: "Xiaozhuang obliquely inserts a new wooden comb, and the class refutes the flowers and clothes tightly." Blowing the lusheng bell, strangers step on the moon and sing about spring. When first frost was first built, bulls contended for good words and wished a bumper harvest. Boys and girls are all together, and reeds dance endlessly. "It can be seen that Lusheng dance has long been an important activity in the traditional festivals of the Miao nationality.

Miao Lusheng dance can be basically divided into three categories:

1. mass Lusheng dance. Miao language is called "research". Every festival, Miao people flock to Lusheng field to dance Lusheng. Lusheng Dance Team is accompanied or led by a huge Lusheng Team. Lusheng team lined up in a "I" shape and played in the same place. The masses danced around the Lusheng team or took the lead in marching, dancing and blowing horns, and the masses danced in a circle. Some Lusheng teams are also equipped with mangoes, which makes Lusheng dance music more magnificent. This form of Lusheng dance is not limited to the number of people, men, women and children can participate, and the dance movements follow the changes of Lusheng music, which is generally relatively simple. The man's movements are vigorous and natural, while the woman's movements are light and soft. With the beating of the Miao girl's body, the silver ornaments she wears make a harmonious and pleasant sound, adding a strong Miao style.

2. perform Lusheng dance. Miao language is called "it is better to give than to throw fish". This is a competitive Lusheng dance for men, which is often held in traditional festivals. The dance music is lively, rhythmic and highly skilled. The movements in the dance are not mastered by ordinary people, and most of them are played by Lusheng experts from various villages. This kind of dance is the most representative in northwest Guizhou. During the competition, most people dance alone or in pairs while blowing, such as cockfighting, tigers going down the mountain, trotting and so on. And they also quickly make jumps, spins, squats and other actions, especially the skills of squatting. During each game, there are many people watching and the mood is very warm.

3. Custom Lusheng Dance. This is a form of group dance that reflects the love life of young men and women. This kind of dance is only attended by unmarried young men and women There are different jumping methods in different places, among which the "Begging for Flowers" in Danzhai and Kaili counties in southeastern Guizhou and the "Leader" in central Guizhou are the most distinctive and representative. "Begging for flowers and ribbons" means that in male and female dances, young men play beautiful Lusheng music while dancing. The content of the music is: "Good friend, good friend, give me a flower ribbon, give me a flower ribbon, tie it on Lusheng, tie it on Lusheng". Then, while dancing, the girl tied her exquisite embroidered ribbon on the lusheng of the young man she loved. The form of "leading the sheep" is also very interesting. When dancing, young men dance in front and young women dance behind. At the same time, young men and women are also observing and testing each other. After a few weeks around the field, the girls began to tie a flower ribbon on the back of the young man they liked. Then, the girls took the other end of the flower ribbon and continued to dance behind the young men. At this time, an interesting scene appeared: some boys were holding four or five girls behind them at the same time, and the formation was as proud as a peacock, beautiful and unique, very beautiful; And some young men are empty behind them. At this time, a handsome and good dancer can choose her beloved girl.