Lezuo Dance in Honghe County, Honghe 

Lezuo Dance in Honghe County, Honghe

Red River County Lezuo Dance: A Cultural Gem of the Hani and Yi Peoples
Known as “Eastern Disco,” the Lezuo Dance is a national intangible cultural heritage created jointly by the Hani and Yi ethnic groups. Its unique charm and profound cultural roots immerse viewers in a celebration of ethnic art. Below is a comprehensive exploration of this dynamic cultural treasure:

I. Historical Roots: A Millennium of Living Memory

  • Origins: The Lezuo Dance began in Azhehe Township, Di Shi Luo Meng area, as the Yi people’s “Cai Qiao Dance,” mimicking agricultural movements like harvesting buckwheat and planting rice.
  • Evolution: Over a thousand years, it blended Hani polyphonic songs and Yi three-string rhythms, forming a complete system of 12 dance steps and 2 musical sets.
  • Recognition: Designated as the “County Dance” in 2003, listed as a national intangible heritage in 2008, and earned Red River County the title “China’s Folk Art Hometown.”

II. Artistic Code: Cultural Symbols Through Movement

(1) Three Layers of Dance Language

  • Labor Epic:
    • Cai Qiao Step: Clockwise/counterclockwise “three steps forward, one back,” mimicking light buckwheat harvesting, skirts swirling like waves.
    • Nian Diao Step: Quick-paced垫steps recreating ancestors’ agility in driving away wild animals, embodying survival wisdom.
  • Emotional Code:
    • Foot-Kicking Dance: Men and women kick feet in rhythm, expressing love through physical interaction.
    • Back-Rubbing Dance: Dancers rub backs to symbolize community cooperation, reflecting the philosophy of “many hands make light work.”
  • Nature’s Ode:
    • You Diao: Bodies sway like mountain streams, embodying “harmony between humans and nature.”
    • Snail Touch: Bending and reaching movements, inspired by terraced field labor, express the Hani’s “forest-village-terrace-water” ecosystem.

(2) Sonic Spectacle

  • Instrument Symphony: Flutes soar like eagles, bawu (bamboo mouth organ) trills like springs, three-string instruments pulse like Earth’s heartbeat, with grass leaves adding spontaneous harmonies.
  • Vocal Patterns:
    • Xun Ban Tune: Flute-led call-and-response between men and women, akin to the Book of Songs’s “Guanguan Zhujiu.”
    • Ah Li Tune: Lullaby-like solo sung under moonlight, called the “Hani Night Song.”
    • Boast and Scold Tunes: Playful duets during festivals, using humor to ease life’s pressures.

III. Cultural Arena: From Fields to Global Stages

(1) Festival Frenzy

  • October Festival: At Samaba’s ten-thousand-mu terraces, villagers in indigo Hani attire dance in hundreds of circles under moonlight, creating a “dance in the painting” spectacle.
  • Torch Festival: In Yi villages, blazing torches light the night as Lezuo Dance intertwines with torch processions, a “tribute to fire.”
  • Opening the Rice Fields: Spring plowing rituals at Jiatun terraces, where tourists join in planting, fishing, and dancing to celebrate “early spring diligence.”

(2) International Resonance

  • 2006 Netherlands Performance: Dutch dancers praised it as “Eastern modern dance with postmodern deconstructivist spirit.”
  • 2019 Lincoln Center Showcase: Audience marveled at its improvisational interactivity, exclaiming, “Dance can be so free!”
  • 2024 May Day Mass Dance: Attracted over 100 visitors from Zhejiang and Guangdong, with one noting, “This isn’t a performance—it’s living culture!”

IV. Immersive Cultural Journey

(1) Time-Travel Itinerary

  • Morning: Visit Zuofu Village’s mushroom houses, learn “Cai Qiao Step” from master Li Apang, and craft a three-string instrument.
  • Afternoon: Stroll through Mabang Ancient Town, listen to Nian Diao stories at Dongmen Tower, and trace horse hoof prints on ancient stone paths.
  • Dusk: Capture the “golden terrace sunset” and Lezuo Dance at Samaba’s viewpoint.
  • Night: Join the mass dance on Lotus Avenue, led by Yi elders, to feel the rhythm of “three-step string.”

(2) Cultural Decoding Tips

  • Costume Code: Hani indigo shirts feature “terrace patterns,” Yi black vests have “flame motifs,” and silver bells on dancers create a dual audio-visual feast.
  • Food Pairing: At long-table feasts, savor Hani bean paste and sour bamboo shoots with wine for an enhanced experience.
  • Photography Tips: Use slow shutter speeds for dynamic skirt swirls; bring fill lights at night to capture fire-and-dance interplay.

V. Preservation and Modern Transformation

  • Education: Lezuo Dance incorporated into school exercises in Baohua Town, where children dance “Nian Diao Step” with youthful energy.
  • Tech Empowerment: Digital platforms in Red River County use 3D scanning and VR to let global audiences “dance virtually.”
  • Cultural Tourism: Mabang Ancient Town offers “Lezuo Dance-themed homestays,” where visitors wear ethnic attire, learn night dances, and live as “Yi people for a day.”

VI. Practical Guide

  • Best Viewing Times: April’s Opening the Rice Fields, October’s October Festival, and Lunar New Year’s Torch Festival.
  • Transport: Take a bus from Kunming South Bus Station to Red River County (5 hours), then hire a car to Azhehe Township (1.5 hours).
  • Accommodation: Yisa Ancient Town’s Mabang-themed guesthouse, with views of century-old arcades and dancing figures.
  • Souvenirs: Lezuo Dance-themed tie-dye scarves, three-string keychains, or custom bamboo flutes engraved with names.
Red River County Lezuo Dance is not just a celebration of movement—it is a tangible expression of ethnic spirit. When you step onto this land, join the swirling crowd, let your body become a vessel of culture, and feel the pulse of a thousand-year civilization in the drumbeat. This is the finest tribute to intangible heritage.

http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-11111-1217.html