Chinese Dance

Minority Nationality Folk Dances

Shao Shu Min Zu Wu Dao, or minority nationality dances are primarily performed for entertainment and may be improvised by the dancer. There are fifty-six different minority nationalities in China, including Tibetan, Mongolian, Uygur, Chaoxian, Dai, Yi and Miao dances. Due to differences of custom, religious belief, climate, and geographic location of the minority groups, each one expresses their dance differently. For example, Tibetans wear long sleeves and perform "tap" dance; while Mongolians mimic horseback riding in their shoulder movement.

Cynthia Tsang

Moreover, within each group, there may be sub-groups, which have slightly different dance styles. These minority nationality dances are generally passed down from generation to generation so that they survive with the community's people.

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