Stories behind the dances add spice to cultural competition

Yes, they still warp their bodies to unbelievable shapes, gyrate for a full minute without losing balance, lift up their partners and spin them overhead. But when it comes to folk-dance competitions, there is something else to watch for.

There are folklores, legends and traditions of various ethnicities that lie beyond the dances.

For the entries of the prestigious Lotus Award, the country's highest honor in folk dancing, it's especially true.