[Beijing Winter Olympics] "The King's Whip" on the Winter Olympics Stage: "Post-90s" lead the "Post-50s" to go on an expedition
[Explanation] At the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, many Chinese elements appeared, showing and disseminating the profound and wonderful traditional Chinese culture to the world, among which "Hebei elements" shined brightly.
Zhangjiakou "post-90s" teacher Jiang Huiru led a dance team with an average age of over 55 to the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics with the "Intangible Cultural Heritage + Winter Olympics" special dance program "Dream of Ice and Snow".
The team members wore snow suits, snow caps and snow goggles, and held the Bawang whip with silver stalks in their hands. The dance was based on the basic movements of the Bawang whip, combined with elements such as the Winter Olympics and square dance, and carried out simplification and popularization improvements. Unique folk art is displayed in front of the people of the world.
[Concurrent] Jiang Huiru, artistic director of the dance team of Zhangjiakou Mass Art Museum
Our Zhangjiakou Mass Art Museum dance team consists of doctors, self-employed individuals, college students, workers, teachers, etc., most of whom are born in the 1950s.
[Concurrent] Ma Lihua, deputy captain of the dance team of Zhangjiakou Mass Art Museum
Our dance is mainly square dance, incorporating the movements of the Hebei intangible cultural heritage folk dance Bawangbian, hoping to show the world Chinese culture and the happy and healthy spirit of our middle-aged and elderly people (people).
[Explanation] The Bawang Whip is one of the unique props of the "Kangbao Errentai" drama in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. After evolution, the Bawang Whip has become a popular folk drama and dance in the Bashang area of Zhangjiakou.
[Concurrent] Ma Lihua, deputy captain of the dance team of Zhangjiakou Mass Art Museum
The bully whip used in the performance is modified and processed by ourselves. The whole body of the whip is silver, and the two ends of the whip are silver tassels, which dance like snowflakes.
[Explanation] The Bawang Whip does not look heavy, and it is not easy to dance. It needs to change various movements. There are no professional actors in the dance team. In order to achieve uniform movements, the team members practice 8 to 10 hours a day.
[Concurrent] Ma Lihua, deputy captain of the dance team of Zhangjiakou Mass Art Museum
Although most of the members of our dance team are old, they are no worse than young people in training.
On the day of the February 4th show, we needed to get in fast to get on stage.
We are the same as those young people, 200 meters distance, 100 meters sprint speed running on the field.
[Commentary] The dance performed by Jiang Huiru's team at the opening ceremony, a lot of jumping movements made them full of passion and vitality.
From the finalist on September 28, 2021, to the performance on February 4, 2022, the members of the dance team practiced tens of thousands of times for 111 days and nights until they formed precise muscle memory.
[Concurrent] Jiang Huiru, artistic director of the dance team of Zhangjiakou Mass Art Museum
The Hebei Intangible Cultural Heritage Bawang Whip dance performance is the only show with intangible cultural heritage elements in the entire opening ceremony. When I perform in the Bird's Nest, I represent not only Zhangjiakou, but also China.
Reported by Xing Lu and Cui Tao from Zhangjiakou, Hebei
Responsible editor: [Ji Xiang]