Something old, something new in the air

Taiyuan showcases traditional, modern performances

Despite standing 2 meters off the ground on tiny metal plates, none of the children looked scared. One appeared worried about his loose headpiece, another bored sitting, but the rest wore stoic expressions as they moved their arms from side to side, the sleeves of their robes swaying in the breeze.

The performance, best associated with Taiyuan's Xugou town, features dancers as young as 2. Each child's leg is secured to a metal plate, which is in turn attached to a metal rod fused to a harness worn under an adult male's costume. The men, also garbed in colorful clothing and headgear, move and sing along to the music while carrying the children.