Dance highlights unique Miao culture in Hunan

A dance show depicting the unique intangible folk culture of the Miao ethnic group was performed in Changsha, Hunan province, on Wednesday to a packed audience.

The show, called "Dance of 24 Solar Terms", vividly depicted the lives of Miao people as it worked its way through different solar terms — starting with winter and ending with autumn. Audiences could appreciate the unique lifestyle, history, intangible techniques and heritage of the Miao.

The production, which lasted 100-minutes, required two years of preparation. It incorporated 33 items of intangible folk culture.

The dancing was creatively choreographed and directed by national-level director Li Shibo. Twelve representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage from Xiangxi Tujia and Miao autonomous prefecture also participated in the creation and performance.

The dance drama takes the 24 Chinese solar terms as its time axis and refines six important terms related to Miao festivals — Winter Solstice, Beginning of Spring, Awakening of Insects, Summer Solstice, Major Heat and Beginning of Autumn.

The Ganqiu Festival, a traditional Miao celebration of the approaching autumn, was added to the UNESCO intangible culture heritage list in 2016.

The dances appeared in the Hunan Arts Festival, which is held every three years.

By depicting historical stories of the Miao, the show presents a unique view of the universe, time and fate, emphasizing that Chinese civilization is diverse and integrated.