Source: CCTV.com

09-14-2006 09:30

The song and dance spectacle "Heaven Grassland" from Inner Mongolia is the must-see of the current China Ethnic Arts Festival. Seven national in tangible heritage from the region are also mixed and shown into the performance.

Inner Mongolia Plateau is the origin of the grassland culture. For hundred and thousands of years, the vast grassland is the stage for the horse back minority to sing and dance. For them, it's the best way to express their love from their hearts while for others it's the best way to share the amazing grassland art and culture.

General Manager of Inner Mongolia Music & Dance Opera Troupe Bao Lidao said:"We want to present the unique side our culture. We spent nearly one year to complete it. With an average age under 30, all the 188 performers are from ethnic groups like Mongolia, Daur, Ewenke, Elunchun and Russia. And our work is paid off. All the tickets are sold out and we can tell from the big applause from the audience. "

Seven national-leveled intangible heritage is shown during the 100-minute-long performance, like the traditional long song accompanied by the typical Mongolian instrument horse-head fiddle.

The the popular competition Boke is also put onto the stage. Boke means wrestling in Mongolian.The colorful stripes on neck is Zhanggasa, the symbol of the highest honor. The number of the belt tells how many times the wrestler has won in his life.

An audience member said:"I myself is Mongolian ethnic. Last time I saw such a song and dance show was 50 years ago. It's moving to see those young people to show our art and culture to the capital audience at the national Ethnic arts festival."

The troupe will then have a charity show for Beijing Jiaotong University and will head to Australia next Feburary for the Canberra Arts Festival.

Editor:Luyuying