Liu Xueguang – Inheritor of Yi Huagu Dance in Eshan County, Yuxi 

Liu Xueguang (柳学光), born in 1968, is a member of the Yi ethnic group from Shangzhongshao Village Group (上中哨组), Qinghe Village Committee (青河村委会), Chahe Township (岔河乡), Eshan Yi Autonomous County (峨山彝族自治县), Yuxi City (玉溪市), Yunnan Province (云南省). He is a sixth-generation inheritor of the Yi ethnic group’s traditional Huagu Dance (花鼓舞).

From a young age, Liu developed a passion for Yi folk dance, beginning to observe and imitate Huagu Dance moves around the age of ten. In 1985, he formally apprenticed under master dancer Li Jiafa (李加发) from Dashao Village (大哨村) in Chahe Township (岔河乡), learning the complete set of Huagu Dance routines. Later, he continued his studies with Lu Tianfu (鲁天富), the leading Huagu master of Jiulong Village (九龙村) in Tadian Town (塔甸镇), acquiring performance styles from the Tadian region.

At the age of 20, Liu became the lead master of the local village Huagu Dance troupe.

Artistic Style and Achievements

After years of performance and study, Liu mastered over 30 Huagu Dance routines that are prevalent in Eshan County (峨山县). He developed a distinct personal style characterized by powerful and graceful movements, with agile and varied footwork involving complex techniques.

Liu also created and choreographed many new Huagu Dance routines and moves. He has participated in and organized numerous provincial, municipal, and county-level performances, celebrations, and folk events.

In May 2002, Liu Xueguang was recognized as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage inheritor. In February 2024, he was selected as one of the sixth batch of national-level representative inheritors of intangible cultural heritage. Over four decades, he has trained thousands of people in Yi villages both within and beyond the county, fostering a new generation of Huagu enthusiasts and inheritors.

Methods of Transmission

Traditional Teaching and Apprenticeship

Master-Apprentice Training

Liu Xueguang has upheld traditional master-apprentice methods to train disciples such as Lu Yuefu (鲁跃富), Shu Lanxian (舒兰仙), and Liu Xiaofen (柳潇芬), who have become key figures in the preservation of Huagu Dance.

Broad Teaching Reach

Over the past 40 years, Liu has trained thousands across numerous Yi villages in and outside of Eshan County (峨山县), cultivating a wide base of learners and future inheritors.

Innovation and Choreography

Creation of New Moves and Routines

Liu has innovated on traditional foundations by developing technically challenging and visually compelling moves such as:

• “Dragonfly Touches Water” (蜻蜓点水): A highly technical move requiring dancers to lightly and gracefully touch the ground like a dragonfly skimming the water.
• “Three-Step Kick” (三步蹬脚): A rhythmic move involving a kick within three steps, requiring strong coordination and control.
• “Ghost Foot Jump” (鬼跳脚): A long and dynamic routine with large, rhythmic movements expressing the passionate spirit of Yi culture.
• “Nabopi” (拿波毕): Another lengthy and artistic routine that showcases performance charm.
• “Liu-Zhou Footwork” (柳周对脚): A joint creation with fellow inheritor Zhou Xing (周兴), this routine is highly influential and symbolic of the Huagu tradition in Eshan.

Dance Works

Liu has also choreographed original pieces such as:

• Welcoming Spring (《喜迎春》)
• Drum Sounds Under the Night Moon (《夜月夜鼓声》)
• Dragon-Head Dance of the Hill Pheasant (《箐鸡尾龙头舞》)

These works have elevated the artistic and aesthetic appeal of the Huagu Dance.

Performances and Cultural Exchange

Organizing and Participating in Events

Liu Xueguang has actively organized and performed in numerous provincial, municipal, and county-level events, including the Kunming International Folk Drum Competition (昆明国际民间鼓大赛), showcasing the Huagu Dance to broader audiences.

Promoting Cultural Understanding

Through participation in folk cultural exchange programs, Liu has fostered greater public awareness and appreciation of Yi culture and Huagu Dance.

Infrastructure for Heritage Transmission

“Huagu Dance Enters Schools” Program

Liu actively promotes Huagu Dance in local schools across Eshan County (峨山县), launching interest classes to introduce the art form to students at an early age.

Establishing Transmission Centers

Eshan County has established:

• 2 Huagu Dance Associations
• 14 Community Heritage Points
• 19 School Training Sites

These institutions provide strong support for ongoing preservation and transmission of Huagu Dance.

Contribution to Artistic Innovation

Liu Xueguang’s contributions to Yi culture go beyond preservation. Through innovation in movements, choreography, and education, he has greatly enriched the expressive forms of the Yi Huagu Dance, aligning it with modern audiences’ aesthetic preferences while retaining its cultural authenticity. His lifelong dedication has made a lasting impact on the cultural identity and vitality of the Yi community in Eshan County (峨山县).