Chinanews.com, Huzhou, December 24 (Shi Zinan and Wu Jianxun) "Huagu Lian boat is made of a lamp, three lotus flowers are made; the upper canopy is created, and the lotus hull is lowered..." With waves and rhythm, Jiang Jiguo was the lead singer and the crowd helped to make the scene instantly ignited by a dry boat dance performance.

　　The dry boat dance, formerly known as "dragon dance boat", "color boat", "hualong boat" and "eight immortal boat", is a folk dance rooted in traditional life.

Jiang Jiguo, who is nearly sixty years old, is the "boat kidnapper" of the dry boat team in Longxiang Community, Meixi Town, Anji County, Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province, and the inheritor of the Zhejiang-level intangible cultural heritage "Meixi Dry Boat".

Jiang Jiguo is carefully portraying Wu Jianxun photo on the dry boat

　　The traditional dry boat dance in Meixi Town can be traced back to the Qing Dynasty.

According to Jiang Jiguo, in the 1950s and 1960s, there were dry boat teams in the villages in Meixi. Almost all the older men could sing boat songs, and the local people would often shake and sing while working.

　　When dancing, the gongs and drums are banging, and the firecrackers are released at home, praying for a good omen for the coming year, a lively and festive scene.

At the age of 18, Jiang Jiguo was deeply attracted by the dry boat dance, and became an indissoluble bond with dry boat dance since then.

　　For more than 40 years, Jiang Jiguo and his companions have worked tirelessly in the countryside, both as actors and porters.

Jiang Jiguo is also responsible for the "stage beauty" and personally pierce the exquisite dry boat for the fleet.

Although it was a lot of trouble, he never tire of it.

Jiang Jiguo and his companions are both actors and porters. Photo by Wu Jianxun

　　Jiang Jiguo's "boat kidnapper" is the "soul figure" of the dry boat dance performance, not only responsible for rap, but also directing the dance formation and movements of the fleet.

There are dozens of traditional repertoires of dry boat songs. The lyrics are rhymed and easy to understand. Most of them are improvised performances, which are extremely challenging.

　　"A dry boat artist must have a wealth of knowledge, and often encounter some'rules' when'paying to the door'. For example, if you sing in a craftsman's house, the other party will ask you if the master of this craft is Who. If you can't answer, he will detain the dry boat..." Speaking of dry boat dance, Jiang Jiguo was right.

　　Jiang Jiguo told reporters that there is no shortage of audiences in dry boat dance performances, and sometimes it takes several hours to sing, "If you sing well, if the audience refuses to leave, you must continue singing. If you happen to run into another boat rider, those two A dry boat team must compete."

The dry boat dance that has been circulating for hundreds of years returns to the countryside. Photo by Wu Jianxun

　　Today, the dry boat dance, which has been circulating for hundreds of years, returns to the countryside after a period of decline.

Jiang Jiguo said all thanks to the revitalization of rural traditional culture.

　　The dry boat team led by Jiang Jiguo was formed in the Longxiang community in 2006, and it has increased from 4 dry boats to dozens now.

In addition, the community has set up a dry boat studio and a dry boat intangible heritage exhibition hall.

　　Almost every week, Jiang Jiguo will come to the local primary school to create and choreograph small dry boat dances for the children, teach them basic knowledge and skills such as rowing and rowing, and collect hundreds of folk dry boat songs, and teach the children one by one. Sing.

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