Chinese New Year dances are the traditional dances Chinese perform for Chinese New Year celebration. Chinese like to have traditional dance performance on celebration occasion. The dance performances for Chinese New Year celebration are normally formal and grand. Dragon dance, lion dance, drum dance and Yangge dance are the most popular Chinese New Year dances for the majority, Han people, in China. Minorities in China, however, perform their own Chinese New Year dances. Lusheng dance of Miao and Dong minorities is one of the most famous Chinese New Year dances of Chinese minorities.
1. Dragon dance
Dragon dance is very popular among Chinese majority, Han-folk. On Chinese New Year celebration, in most regions of China are there Dragon dance performances. Dragon dance has already about 1000 years' history. It reflects the traditional Dragon adoration in Chinese culture.
Dragon dance is a group dance with dragon as stage property. Normally it is performed by 9, 11, 13, 15 or more persons. When dancing, the performers hold a dragon made of bamboo, paper, wood, silk or some other material and stimulate the movements of dragon. Traditionally the number of performers must be an odd number between 9 and 29. Normally the performers are young men.
Chinese New Year dance - Dragon dance
2. Lion dance
Just as dragon dance, lion dance is also popular among Han folk. When performing Lion dance, the performers hide themselves under one or more artificial lions, and perform a series of fixed actions, such as catching silk ball, stepping up and down the seesaw, etc. The dancers stimulate the movements of lions and art up the movements to make them funny and lively. Compared with dragon dance, lion dance is more flexible and changeful. Lion dances have many different performing programs. Some performing programs contain over 100 different actions.
Chinese New Year dance - Lion dance
3. Drum dance
Drum dance is popular in many regions in China. But the drum dances in different regions have normally different styles. For instance, in Anhui province, the drums used for drum dance are small and light, and the dance is performed by a woman and a man. The woman put the drum on her body, dances and hits the drum while the man hits a gong and sings. In Beijing, Lan zhou and some other regions in north of China, the drum dance is called as "peaceful drum dance". A peace drum is about 1 meter long and is made of wood and ox skin. When it is hit, the drum sounds can be heard several km away. Drum dances are developed from the old Chinese custom of hitting instruments and drums on large celebrations/ceremonies. In Yin Shang time (1600-1046 BC), big chimes and drums were already popular in China. It is thought that drum dance existed already on the worship ceremonies in primitive times.
Chinese New Year dance - Drum dance
4. Yangge dance
Yangge dance is a widespread Chinese New Year dance in China. It is a massive group dance which anyone can take part in. Yangge dances are often performed in parade. Yangge performers are usually made up to be roles in Chinese legends when they dance in parade. Yangge styles are different from region to region. Except the cosmetics, many stage properties, such as fans, land-boat, stilts, etc, are also used in Yangge dances.
Chinese New Year dance - Yangge dance
5. Lusheng dance
Lusheng dance is the most popular massive dance of Miao and Dong minorities in China. When performing Lusheng dance, the male performers play their traditional instrument Lusheng and the female performers dance with the music. Miao and Dong folk like to dance. Every Miao or Dong man has his own Lusheng, and every Miao or Dong woman can Lusheng dance.
Chinese New Year dance - Lusheng dance
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