Li Zhage – Inheritor of Lusheng Dance of Lahu Ethnic Minority in Lancang County, Puer
Profile
Li Zhage(李扎戈), male, Lahu nationality(拉祜族), born in 1939, is a member of Lancang Lahu Autonomous County(澜沧拉祜族自治县), Puer City(普洱市). He is known as Gakouba(嘎叩巴) which means Prince of Lusheng Dance in Lahu ethnic language. Li Zhage and his brother, Li Zhaluo(李扎倮) are the inheritors of Lusheng Dance of Lahu Ethnic Minority(拉祜族芦笙舞) and Epic of Creation-Mupamipa (牡帕密帕) in Jiujing Town(酒井乡) of Lancang County, Puer.
Personal Experiences
Li Zhage and his brother were born in a family of singing and dancing. Their predecessors have a history of singing and dancing inheritance for generations. Some of their younger generations are well-known for their singing and dancing creation and performance.
Li Zhage and Li Zhaluo began to learn Lahu ethnic song and dance when they were 13 years old. They learned the traditional movements and routines of Lusheng dance and the national epic Mupamipa. When there were major festivals or sacrificial activities, they would follow the master to participate in.
After more than 10 years of study, they have mastered the skills of Lusheng dance and the ability of choreography. They have learned the speaking and singing of Mupamipa, and become a very few artists who can fully speak and sing this epic.
Chinese Version:http://www.ynich.cn/view-ml-13110-803.html
Translated by Olive/张银芳
