Chinese dance can be divided into the broad categories of folk and classical.
Chinese dance existed even before the earliest written Chinese characters. Ceramic artifacts dated from 4000 B.C. depict dancing figures stamping their feet and locking arms. Dance remains an important part of Chinese cultural celebrations, folk rituals and religious ceremonies. Several distinct styles of dance have evolved in China over the years that can be broadly divided into two groups -- folk and classical.
Military and Civilian Dance
Military dance grew distinct from civilian dance during the Shang and Chou dynasties in the first millennium B.C. Civilian dancers performed with feather banners to symbolize the fruits of a day's worth of hunting and fishing. Military dances involved large groups of dancers moving weapons back and forth in choreographed, synchronized motions, which later evolved into military exercises. This division of dance between the civilian and the military reflected the rigid social roles of the time.
Folk Dance
Folk dances depict the lives and stories of people from the 56 existing tribes in China. Although each region and tribe has its own distinct dance traditions, they share a common style, vocabulary and syntax. Folk dancers create smooth, flowing movements with detailed hand and arm positions. The dance steps themselves are usually basic and uncomplicated, but performed with great care, precision and artistry. The Chinese divide folk dances into five distinct categories based on their purpose and the themes they portray: festival and season dances, life dances, ritual dances, belief dances and work-based dances.
Classical Dance
Originally passed down in the imperial court, Chinese classical dance has an extensive training system and precise technique. The style consists of three main components: form, bearing and techniques. Hundreds of intricate body positions make up the form. Bearing refers to the dancer's inner expression and artistic connection to the movements. Techniques include a set of difficult movements like jumps, flips and turns that Chinese classical dancers have executed for millenniums. Dancers study and train for many years to perform classical Chinese dance well.
Modern Dance
Modern and contemporary dance in China resists the limitations of classical dances but draws on its vocabulary and training. Heavily influenced by western dance trends, Chinese modern dance remains distinctly Chinese in its incorporation of classical vocabulary and the emphasis on a connection between mind and body. While Chinese modern dance is more closely related to classical than folk dancing, it is still a relatively new form without a set standard of technique and form. Instead, modern dance in China draws on the culture of modern China and innovative methods of movement.
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