Source: CCTV.com

09-12-2006 09:25

Yunnan Province is known for its lush landscapes and many ethnic groups. Each of these groups has its own distinctive culture. On Friday night, the charm of each culture was vividly woven into a colorful mosaic on the national stage in Beijing.

The name Yunnan, literally means "Clouds of the South," for which the beautiful, mysterious province is famous. The song and dance gala paid tribute to the tradition with its name "Dance of Colorful Clouds."

Home to twenty-six ethnic groups, Yunnan is celebrated for its cultural diversity. The charm of 19 minority groups is presented at the show, which is a part of the 3rd Minorities Arts Festival of China.

Before the show, Yunnan's vice governor affirmed the positive force of culture.

Vice Governor of Yunnan Province Li Hanbai said:"As a province hosting so many ethnic groups, how their different beliefs and traditions co-exist is a big issue. We respect their various cultures, and try to fuse them into a big group. Cultural exchange and co-existence serve as a bond uniting ethnic groups."

Performers are from the Yunnan Song & Dance Theater as well as folk artists. Performances reflect daily life, from farming activities to courting and celebrating festivals.

Artistic Director of “Dance of Colorful Clouds” Zhao Zizhuang said:"Each dance or song at the show must be typical of its ethnic group. Such as the Dai 'Peacock Dance'. The peacock is the totem worshiped by the Dai. So there are countless dances imitating the noble creature. But this time, we chose a man to take the lead, while former versions are mostly female. We try to show the masculinity and majesty of the peacock on the stage, which will be fresh to most audiences."

Yunnan has thirty-three activities and art forms on the country's intangible cultural heritage list.

And the magnificent ethnic cultures remain an inexhaustible source of inspiration for artists.

 

Editor:Luyuying