Ancient dance staged at Shandong folk festival

Dancers perform the Three Emperors Dance at a folk festival. [Photo by Liu Yongxia for chinadaily.com.cn]

The audience was both excited and charmed when a group of dancers recently performed an ancient dance at a folk festival in the prefecture-level Heze city, located in East China's Shandong province.

The dance, known as the Three Emperors Dance, is one of the oldest dances in China. It originated from more than 5,000 years ago and is an item of provincial intangible cultural heritage.

The dance was staged at the first Yao-Shun Culture and Art Festival of Juancheng county in Heze city, which kicked off recently. The festival showcases various cultural and folk activities that reflect the rich and diverse heritage of the region.

The Three Emperors Dance tells the story of how human beings evolved from crawling to walking upright and how they fought against a beast called Kui. It also expresses the ancient people's worship, gratitude and devotion to heaven, earth and humanity.

"In ancient times, people danced to pray for rain and to worship their ancestors. We now dance this dance to inherit this cultural heritage and show its unique charms," said Chen Zehua, an inheritor of the dance.

According to Chen, the costumes and props used for dancing are very particular. The costumes are made according to the historical background of the dance, imitating the attire of human beings in ancient times. The props are made from real cow bones.

The Three Emperors Dance is said to be a valuable treasure of Chinese civilization. It reflects the history and spirit of the Chinese people and their respect for nature and ancestors. Enthusiasts say it is a living fossil of ancient dance that deserves to be cherished and protected. (Edited by Fan Yuanyuan)