A performance featuring Maoming's Xian Tai (Lady Xian) Dance was held recently during the Nianli (年例) Festival in Nanshan Village, Shuzai Town, Dianbai District. The vigorous dance steps resonated through the countryside, captivating the hearts of the residents.
Performers dressed in costumes inspired by the Li ethnic group held rice cake molds in their left hands and short sticks in their right, moving through powerful formations that recreated the grand scenes of Lady Xian bringing stability to Lingnan.
The dance incorporates elements from Li-Liao (俚僚) culture, He rice culture, and Maonan Hong-style martial arts from western Guangdong. It has been developed into two versions: a "stage version" and a "parade version," with the latter perfectly suited to the rhythm of the Nianli custom parade.
The Xian Tai Dance has established a virtuous cycle of "creation-performance-dissemination," attracting over 500,000 viewers both online and offline, and has become a new cultural highlight for Maoming's tourism. In the future, Maoming plans to explore new methods of dissemination, such as short videos, to develop a cultural IP.
Author | Zhou Liang
Photo | Deng Jianqing
Video | Zhou Liang
