Fusion of Huangge town's Kylin dance with hip-hop attracts learners

In Huangge town, Nansha district, the traditional Kylin dance has a history of over 100 years. During festivals and holidays, people performace the Kylin dance to express their blessings for a happy and prosperous future.

Mai Xiaofeng, a resident of Dongli village in Huangge town, is an inheritor of the local Kylin dance. He has been dedicated to passing down the folk dance for 23 years, evolving from a novice to a seasoned inheritor.

The Huangge Kylin dance integrates music, dance, fine arts, and Southern Chinese martial arts, emphasizing waist strength and body coordination. To embody the unique spirit and charm of the Kylin dance, a solid foundation in martial arts and rigorous training are required. Mai emphasizes that while mastering the traditional Kylin dance movements is essential, what's more important is precise execution and muscle memory.

Innovating the Kylin dance, Mai blends it with elements like the lion dance and hip-hop culture, creating fashionable dance pieces. He also plans to narrate his story of practicing the Kylin dance and becoming an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage through stage dramas, conveying his love for and dedication to the Kylin dance.

To attract more young people to learn the Kylin dance, he founded the Huangge Xiongfeng Hall Kylin Lion Sports Association, offering Kylin dance training that has attracted over 40 members, most of whom were born in the 1990s, with some as young as 10. Through fun teaching methods, Mai hopes to inspire more people's interest and love for the Kylin dance.

Mai (L) teaches the students the Kylin dance. [Photo/WeChat account: gz_nanshafabu]