Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Moscow, February 26 (Xinhua) — Moscow celebrated the Spring Festival (Chinese Spring Festival, the traditional Chinese New Year according to the lunar calendar) in a special way this year: the Fumei Qingnian troupe from Puning, Guangdong Province, brought the Yingge folk dance, one of the ancient traditional dances originating from the historical Chaoshan region of Guangdong Province, to the Russian capital. Performances for Russian audiences and Chinese guests took place as part of the "Chinese New Year in Moscow" festival.
Yingge is often called the “Chinese martial dance” for its energy, lively rhythm and martial arts elements.
For one of the troupe members, Li Hongxin, this trip was special. "I've been studying Yingge for over seven years. This is my first trip to Moscow, and I love it here. Moreover, this is the first snow I've ever seen. It's a great joy for me to come here and represent Chinese culture, to bring Yingge dance and the culture of the Chaoshan region to the world, and to make Chinese New Year a holiday for people all over the world," he shared.
His colleague Li Zhizhuang admitted that he prepared for his performances in Moscow with particular dedication: "It's a great honor for me to perform in Moscow. We brought our Ying'e dance here and will definitely do everything possible to present it to the best of our ability, giving Muscovites the most spectacular performance possible."
According to Shen Danlu, a representative of the Guangdong Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism, this dance was inscribed on China's list of intangible cultural heritage in 2006. Yingge originated from ancient sacrificial rituals and prayers for prosperity and, over time, evolved into a fully-fledged performing art form, based on the novel "Water Margin" and combining dance, drama, and martial arts. "The goal of the tour is to introduce Chinese culture to international audiences through performing arts," Shen Danlu emphasized.
Li Junhao, the Puning troupe's chief instructor, began practicing martial arts at age five, Yingge at age nine, and became the company's lead dancer at sixteen. According to the instructor, he was captivated not only by the dance's expressive form but also by its hidden power. "Yingge has a special energy—a spirit of unity, courage, a willingness to fight and strive for victory. It was this spirit that inspired me, and over time, my love for Yingge grew even stronger," Li Junhao remarked.
He added that the group came to Moscow to perform specifically so that Russian audiences could become more familiar with traditional Chinese culture and experience the atmosphere of the Spring Festival.
The performances of the Fumei Qingnian troupe resonated with Muscovites and became further evidence that cultural ties between China and Russia continue to strengthen—festival after festival, dance after dance. –0–
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