Jumping bamboo poles is a traditional sport of the Li ethnic group in China.
The Li Bamboo Dance originated as an imitation of the traditional activity of chopping firewood, which is described in the Dictionary as "Chai Dance, also known as Bamboo Dance and Bamboo Pole Dance." Its origin is more authoritatively described as coming from the ancient funeral customs of the Li.
In addition, there are two other sayings about the origin of the Chai Dance. One theory is that in ancient times, when productivity was underdeveloped and mountains were high and forests were dense, local people used bamboo to build houses, thus forming a unique boat-shaped thatched house culture. The Li people imitated the process of building houses by sliding on the bamboo, jumping on the bamboo and other movements, and appropriately combined with rhythmic music, using the bamboo to beat out the rhythm, thus forming a unique rhyme of the dance of jumping firewood.
Another way of saying the origin of the Chai Dance is that the Li people went up to the mountains to cut firewood, and when they were resting, they knocked the firewood emissions and jumped around, which gradually evolved into the Chai Dance.
Dance Characteristics
"Jumping on bamboo poles" is one of the most rich local flavor of the Li people. Whenever there is a festival, Li compatriots will dress in colorful national costumes and gather in the square to dance the "Bamboo Dance".
Jumping bamboo poles, eight long bamboo poles parallel discharge into four rows, bamboo poles open and close, along with the rhythm of the music drums, constantly changing patterns, 4-8 young men and women with the rhythm of fast or slow, in the cross of the bamboo poles, dexterity, wit, free jumping, when the bamboo poles apart, legs or single foot landing skillfully.
Without waiting for the bamboo poles to come together and then jump up quickly, and from time to time to change the dance steps to make a variety of beautiful dance movements, young men and women participating in the dance, while dancing from a whisper to a loud voice shouting: "hey - hey, hey - hey," greatly adding to the warm atmosphere.
Refer to Baidu Encyclopedia - Jumping Bamboo Poles