What does Nanjing street sacrifice dance mean?

Nanjing Street Dance is an ancient folk art performance, which is widely spread in the south of China. Its origin can be traced back to ancient sacrificial ceremonies, in which dance was used to pray for the blessing of the gods and hope for peace and happiness of the family, the village and the whole society. The jumping, twisting, waving and other movements of Nanjing Street Dance are of special significance, such as jumping, kicking and twisting the waist, which are helpful to show the physical strength and flexibility of the dancers. This form of performance is still preserved and carried forward in many streets in Nanjing.

The performers of street sacrificial dances in Nanjing are usually the elderly among the nearby residents. They love this cultural form very much and enjoy it. They usually wear traditional costumes and perform sacrificial dances in the streets or in front of temples on festivals or special occasions. This is not only a form of displaying local culture and traditions, but also reflects the reverence and respect of villagers in nearby communities for ancestors, families and gods.

The dance movements and performance forms of street sacrificial dances in Nanjing are full of local characteristics and cultural connotations. Street sacrificial dance is a very popular folk culture, so it is now loved and passed down by more and more young people. In some cultural and art festivals or intangible cultural heritage protection activities in Nanjing, street dance sacrifices have been included and become a very important cultural heritage. Although this folk culture has become less and less in real life, as a valuable historical and cultural heritage, we can still inherit and carry it forward in various forms.