Gaoshan Lashou Dance
01 · Historical Records
The hand-holding dance is a self-entertainment folk dance of the Gaoshan people, originating in the collective singing-and-stepping performed by its various branches during harvest festivals, ancestor-spirit rites and other sacrificial activities; its history extends back more than a thousand years, and it is widely circulated in the central mountains of the island of Taiwan, the eastern longitudinal valley plains, Orchid Island and the western plains. On the mainland, the hand-holding dance was brought over by Gaoshan compatriots who historically crossed the sea from Taiwan to settle, and it is transmitted at Gaoshan settlements in coastal areas such as Fujian and Zhejiang; Hua'an County, Zhangzhou City, Fujian Province, is one of the larger such settlements.
02 · Core Techniques & Process
The Gaoshan hand-holding dance is a self-entertainment folk dance of the Gaoshan people, widely circulated in the central mountains of the island of Taiwan, the eastern longitudinal valley plains, Orchid Island and the western plains, as well as in coastal areas of the mainland such as Fujian and Zhejiang. Its history is long, extending back more than a thousand years. The Gaoshan hand-holding dance may be performed at festive holidays and wedding ceremonies, and also serves for entertainment in ordinary times. In everyday dancing there may be as few as three to five people or as many as several dozen, and at major festivals the participants can number several hundred. When dancing, the participants form one circle or several circles, generally advancing and retreating along the circle or facing the centre; there are also formations in a single row, double row, spiral and "the dragon swaying its tail". In the dance a skilled singer-dancer usually serves as the lead vocalist, and the lyrics sung are largely of a kind that praise the ancestors, extol heroes, congratulate the harvest, encourage production and sing of unity. In the "small hand-holding" form, the arms may be swung back and forth and up and down widely, or else bent at either side of the body; in the "big hand-holding" form the arms cannot be swung. The movements of the hand-holding dance consist mainly of steps such as advancing the foot, withdrawing the foot, raising the leg and stamping the foot; men also add more vigorous actions such as large forward leaps and a full squat followed by standing upright. Variations of rhythm and of combinations make the dance steps extremely rich. The Gaoshan hand-holding dance plays an irreplaceable role in strengthening cultural identity across the Strait and in promoting social harmony and cross-strait unity.
Small and large hand-holding
Hands may be joined with neighbours, allowing big arm swings, or joined across one person in a crossing chain.
Lead singing and response
A skilled lead singer intones praise of ancestors, heroes and harvest while the circle responds.
Rows, spirals and dragon-tail formations
Formations include single and double rows, spirals and the dragon-tail, built from advancing, retreating, lifting and stamping steps.
The Hua'an community
Hua'an county in Fujian is a major mainland Gaoshan settlement where the dance is performed at festivals and cross-strait exchanges.
03 · Regional Records & Related Items
There are two ways of linking hands: the first is to link with the people on either side, usually called the "small hand-holding", which itself includes hand in hand and hooking little fingers with one another; the second is to link with the person two places away, forming interlocked linked arms, usually called the "big hand-holding". On the mainland, the Gaoshan hand-holding dance is centred on the settlements in places such as Hua'an in Fujian; the Cultural Center of Hua'an County, Fujian Province, is the protecting unit for this item, and the dance is performed mainly at ethnic festivals and cross-strait exchange events. On the Taiwan island itself, the hand-holding dance of the various tribes is often organized by age group and divided by sex at the harvest festival, with elders leading the singing and everyone responding in chorus; the formation generally advances and retreats along the circle, and the participants range from several dozen to several hundred.
04 · Cultural Value & Contemporary Safeguarding
At present this fine ethnic art has few successors in its transmission and urgently needs protection.
06 · Authoritative Sources & Bibliography
Sources
China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network (ihchina.cn)
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