A post-2000s leader shares: we perform the Yingge Dance for Chinese and African leaders

Yingge Dance has been making waves, and now, it has graced the stage at the Great Hall of the People. 

Yingge Dance has been making waves, and now, it has graced the stage at the Great Hall of the People. 

On the evening of September 4th, eight young performers from the Taoyuan Yingge Dance Troupe in Chaoyang District, Shantou, Guangdong, put on a stunning show at a banquet hosted by President Xi Jinping to welcome leaders from African nations and international organizations, who attended the Beijing Summit of the China-Africa Cooperation.

The performance, titled “China-Africa Drum Dance,” featured a collaboration between Chinese and African youth. Four male and four female Yingge dancers showcased the charm of China’s rich cultural heritage and the allure of a national intangible cultural asset with their energetic and bold dance moves.

Zheng Haobin, the leader of the Taoyuan Yingge Dance Troupe, is part of the post-2000s generation. At just under 23 years old, he already leads a team of 130 members, handling daily training, team management, and coordinating with coaches. In an interview on September 7th, he spoke with a Yangcheng Evening News reporter about their performance in Beijing and the troupe’s journey from its formation to its ongoing innovations.

To prepare for this significant performance in Beijing, the Taoyuan Yingge Dance Troupe arrived in the capital on August 18th to begin rehearsals. 

However, the complex choreography posed a considerable challenge for them. “Our previous performances only required coordination within our own troupe,” Zheng explained. “But this time, in just four minutes, we had to integrate multiple dance styles. There was the Yingge dance, the Shaanbei Waist Drum, the performance by the Little Egret Folk Dance Troupe from Xiamen, and the martial arts and drumming performed by the African youth. It took time for all the teams to harmonize on stage.” He added, “Though we come from different regions and even countries, we shared the same music, worked together, and our hearts aligned.”

Zheng shared that the Taoyuan Yingge Dance Troupe was the first female Yingge team in Chaoyang District (formerly Miancheng District) after the founding of the People’s Republic of China. Back in 1953, as the country encouraged women to participate in the workforce, many women in Shantou joined textile factories for embroidery work. In response to the national call for female recreational activities, a women’s Yingge troupe was formed. Once the notice was posted, 60 women quickly joined and began training.

“Many of our former members are still alive today, some of them now nearing 90 years old,” Zheng said. “When they heard that we established a heritage base last year, they were eager to visit and reconnect.” Currently, the troupe’s members range in age from 5 to 32, with 130 members across different age groups, each with tailored training programs.

Zheng is full of hope for the future of the Yingge Dance. Being able to perform at such a prestigious international event made him immensely proud. “Of course, we must keep moving forward. Our journey is far from over,” he said. “I believe that the Taoyuan Yingge Dance Troupe and the Yingge Dance of Chaoyang will continue to thrive, reaching even larger global stages and allowing more people to experience its unique charm.”

Source: Lingnan on the Cloud