Yao's Long Drum Dance is a folk dance of Yao people in China, which is popular in Yao inhabited areas in Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan and other provinces. It is often performed in traditional festivals of Yao nationality and on days to celebrate harvest, housewarming or weddings. Yao nationality's Long Drum Dance has a long history. It was born out of the ritual table of Wang Yi, who originated very early, and some dances in witchcraft activities. Now it has developed into a mass entertainment activity.

Paiyao compatriots living in the mountainous area of northern Guangdong like to dance long drums in festivals. When dancing, dancers wear festive costumes, wear HongLing around their waist, wrap white leggings on their feet, and hang 1 meter-long flower drums. Sometimes they fly fast, and sometimes tigers pounce on food, especially when they perform in pairs, which is like two tigers fighting each other and playing with pearls. It's really interesting. The whole set of movements is vigorous, rough and free, which vividly shows the hardworking and brave spirit and strong character of the Yao people.

An inspiring performance

1, performance props

Long drum, the main prop of long drum, has been recorded in relevant ancient books of Song and Qing Dynasties. Song dynasty called spear drum, also known as long waist drum. It was called Long Drum in Qing Dynasty, and it still basically retains the shape characteristics of ancient Long Drum.

2. Digital formation

There is no limit to the number of people during the Long Drum Dance performance, and two or more people can be even. Two people are a combination, three or four steps apart, and their left shoulders are opposite. Each dance can be composed of several groups. Under the command of the leading drum, each pair of combinations sometimes crosses straight, sometimes dances in big or small circles, and the formation is horizontal or oblique, combining time with time. Little Square and Grand Square are common, and there are queue performances when traveling in the countryside, and the scene graphics are rich and colorful.

3. Dancer's movements

The dancer's hand movements are hands outstretched, elbows slightly bent, palms down, mainly beating the drums at both ends. Dance movements focus on the waist and legs, with the upper body slightly leaning forward and knees slightly flexed as the basic form, and the rhythmic stretching and flexion of knees driving the body to vibrate up and down as the basic dynamic. This basic form and dynamics are integrated into various performances of the long drum.