Yao Monkey Drum Dance

The Monkey Drum Dance is popular in the junction area between Mashan County and Shanglin County, the place that the Bunu Yao ethnic people inhabit. It is often performed in the Danu Festival. Generally, there are four dancers with a band and vocal accompaniment, and a cowhide drum and a cymbal as the stage properties. One performer beats the drum as the monkey king and carries a gourd on his back, which is a wine container. Another one plays the cymbal and the other two performers dance with fans in their hands. At the beginning, the monkey king first appears on the stage and cries out to the other monkeys. Then, the monkey king beats the drum three times and the cymbal player plays the cymbal to answer the calling and the band begins to play music accordingly. At this time, the other three dancers appear on the stage together. Then they dance around the monkey king. Holding the drum stick, the monkey king beats the drum on both sides of the drum and the cymbal player strikes the cymbals in rhythm according to the drum beatings, meanwhile, the other two fan dancers are dancing up and down following the rhythms of the drum and the cymbal. They sometimes push the monkey king backwards together; or, they steal the king’s wine and drink; sometimes, they make faces or fan for the king, which are quite funny and interesting. When they are dancing, the vocal accompaniments are singing songs to praise the morality and wisdom of the monkey king as well as the daily life of the Yao people.

Publishes at : 07-11-11 20:55

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