Characteristics of Yi Dance

The Yi dance is a dance that has been passed down in the Yi area, and is an important part of the life of the Yi people. Its forms are colorful and diverse, and most of them are made by imitating the movements of production and labor. Ancient dances include "Cockfighting" and "Sheepfighting" which simulate animal images, "Jumping Hairpin" and "Knife Dance" which symbolize war, and "Harvest Dance" which celebrates the harvest.

There are a number of dances that simulate animal figures, such as the "cockfight" and "sheepfight", the "hairpin dance" and "sword dance" that symbolize war, and the "big drum dance" that celebrates the harvest.

During the Yi people's celebration of the New Year's Day, you can see the dance forms "Bamboo Horses" and "Stilts", which originated from the culture of the Central Plains. During the ceremonies held by the Yi people to worship their ancestors and pray for a good harvest, you can see the "Wooden Drum Drum", the "Copper Drum Drum" and the "Sheepskin Drum Drum Drum".

These dances are performed by shamans "Bimo" and "Suye", who beat the drums while rapidly swinging their shoulders, chests and hips as the main dance vocabulary. In addition, in the "Jumping Palace Festival" performances of "jumping palace", "jumping Ki A" and other dances, still retains the traces of ancient hunting, inter-tribal warfare, as well as warriors to go on a journey, combat, victory and triumph of the sacrificial rituals and dance scenes, as a way to express the memory of the ancient heroes and praise.

There are five types of Yi dances, which are categorized as beat songs, jumping strings, Luozuo, jumping three strings, and phi felt dances. The first four types of dances originated from the ancient life of the Yi people, and the fifth type of dance imitating eagles and bears is related to the ancient multi-gods and totem worship of the Yi people. These animal simulation dances, with beautiful movements, were gradually separated from the sacrificial rituals in the long historical process, and kept adding the aesthetic sense of each era, making them performance dances exclusively for people's enjoyment.

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