Dong folk traditions come alive in Beijing musical

Xiaohuang village is located in the hilly Congjiang county of southwestern China's Guizhou province, and is some four hours by road from Guiyang, the provincial capital. Xiaohuang is home to the ethnic Dong group, members of which call their abode the "village of songs", owing to the dage (polyphonic folk songs) played there.

Dage are often described as a cappella performed by multiple singers.

More than 60 Xiaohuang residents, aged from 5 to 80, traveled from their village to Beijing on Jan 8, to participate in a musical titled Sing for Love at the National Center for the Performing Arts. The musical was based on a traditional Dong tale of Zhulang and Niangmei, two young lovers who flee their respective homes in the fear of being forced into arranged marriages.