Shen Yun Performing Arts
  • About Shen Yun
    New to Shen Yun?
    9 Characteristics of Shen Yun
    Our Story
    Challenges We Face
    Classical Chinese Dance
    Symphony Orchestra
  • Artists
  • Videos
  • What’s New
    What’s New
    News
    Blog
  • 5,000 Years
    Chinese Dance
    Music
    Vocal Music
    Shen Yun Costumes
    Digital Projection
    Shen Yun Props
    Stories and History
    Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • FAQ
  • Reviews
  • Newsletter Support Employment Search
    English
  • 中文正體
  • 中文简体
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Pусский
  • Română
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • עברית
  • Tickets & Info
    Menu
    Shen Yun Logo
    Tickets
    What’s New
    Menu
    • About Shen Yun
      • New to Shen Yun? 9 Characteristics of Shen Yun Our Story Challenges We Face Classical Chinese Dance Symphony Orchestra
    • Artists
    • Videos
    • What’s New
      • What’s New News Blog
    • 5,000 Years
      • Chinese Dance Music Vocal Music Shen Yun Costumes Digital Projection Shen Yun Props Stories and History Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
    • FAQ
    • Reviews
    • Shop
      • Shen Yun Creations
      • Shen Yun Dancer
      • Shen Yun Gift Shop
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    What Makes Us Unique?

    DISCOVER THE 9 CHARACTERISTICS
    • Employment
    • Support
    • Subscribe
    • Search
    Language
    • 中文正體
    • 中文简体
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Pусский
    • Română
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • עברית
      News
      Back News > Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance vs. Classical Chinese Dance
    Outsidesites Syimg Ethnic 690x376
    Celebrating The Divine, 2016.

    Chinese Ethnic and Folk Dance vs. Classical Chinese Dance

    The hallmark of the Shen Yun program is classical Chinese dance. But in addition, each season we also have pieces featuring Chinese ethnic and folk dance styles. They radiate with energy and tend to have catchy rhythms, lovely costumes, and fun props. But do you know the real differences between these dance forms and classical Chinese dance?

    Ethnic Dance

    China has 56 officially recognized ethnic groups, including Mongolian, Tibetan, Manchu, Yi, Hmong, and Dai. Some of them can be further subdivided; the Yi, for example, consists of subgroups that speak in six mutually unintelligible languages.

    From the steppes of the north to the subtropics of the south, from the coastal regions of the east to the deserts of the west, the different ethnic groups lead vastly different lifestyles. Many have thousands of years of heritage, including artistic traditions like dance.

    Ethnic dances are rooted in daily life, seasonal celebrations, and worship rituals. Their movements embody the aesthetics and cherished values of their people.

    Take Mongolian ethnic dance. This style depicts the life of nomadic herdsmen who call the open grasslands home. Movements often imitate horse riding, hunting, milking livestock, and majestic eagles soaring overhead. Tableware—chopsticks, cups, and bowls— are common props because during traditional celebrations Mongolians would grab their utensils and dance to their heart’s content, often as a sign of hospitality. Mongolian dance is characterized by vigor and pride, its movements dashing and unconstrained.

    Folk Dance

    Chinese folk dances come from the common traditions of China’s largest ethnic group, the Han. And different folk dance styles are associated with the traditions of Han people living in different regions.

    Historically, folk dances were often performed as part of harvest celebrations. Many dance elements come from farming and country life, such as “rolling up your sleeves” (wan xiu), “rabbit in the burrow” (tu er xuan wo), “digging steps” (wa bu), and “scattering seeds” (die zi er). Common props include handkerchiefs, ribbons, fans, and drums of all sizes.

    Ethnic and folk dances were not conceived for professional theatrical performance. Rather, they are time-honored but non-systematic styles passed down generation by generation. In a Shen Yun performance, they add variety and diversity to the cultural experience.

    Classical Chinese Dance

    Classical Chinese dance is one of the most comprehensive and expressive dance forms in the world. It transcends regional, and even ethnic, differences. It includes systematic training in dance fundamentals as well as a wide range of difficult technical moves.

    Classical Chinese dance has been refined and enriched over thousands of years. It was first performed inside the imperial court, from where it spread to the populace. During its early stages of development, classical Chinese dance was heavily influenced by Chinese martial arts and opera. Terminology for many poses and technical moves reveal their martial origin, for example, “sword hand” (jian zhi), “bow and arrow stance” (gong jian bu), “cavalry stance” (ma bu), and “wheel of wind and fire” (feng huo lun).

    Requirements for professional performers are rigorous, including high-level flexibility, strength, and mastery of spinning, tumbling, and jumping maneuvers.

    Many ethnic and folk dance styles, on the other hand, call for advanced skills with specific props, for example, spinning and twirling handkerchiefs in a folk dance, or balancing a stack of bowls on your head in a Mongolian dance, as well as stylistic mastery, such as the “three curves” requisite for postures in Dai ethnic dance.

    The Full Gamut

    Ethnic and folk dances tend to be joyous and celebratory in nature. They are fun and upbeat. Classical Chinese dance, by comparison, has a wider spectrum, expressing a range of emotions, portraying specific characters and complex plotlines. And in depicting legends across the dynasties, classical Chinese dance also conveys the profound morals and inner meaning embedded in them, bringing to life the incredible depth of five thousand years of civilization.

    By incorporating ethnic and folk dances alongside the classical form and story-based dances, the performance is able to showcase an expansive scope of traditional Chinese culture.

    To discover more about China’s various ethnic and folk tradition, explore the links below.

    RELATED CONTENT
    • Classical Chinese Dance and Ballet
      7 Differences Between Ballet and Classical Chinese Dance
    • New Logo General Default Thumb
      Are Classical Chinese Dancers Gymnasts?
    • Martial Arts Vs Ccd
      Kung Fu and Chinese Dance: Long-Lost Siblings?

    Previous

    Shen Yun Principal Dancer Carol Huang’s Journey to Stardom

    Next

    Classical Chinese Dance vs. Gymnastics
    Most Recent
    • Photos from Tour: A Jump Start to the 2023 Season
      Anna Wang Sophie Shao  Edingburgh Playhouse 2000x1333
    • Artist Spotlight: Evangeline Zhu
      Yingshu Header Artist Spotlight EN
    • Q&A with Dancer Lillian Parker
      LillyParker LDB4711 650x400ratio Lillian
    • Introducing: Shen Yun Collections Retail Store
      Shenyunshoptaiwan
    • Shen Yun 2023: Ready, Set…
      SY23 EndCard HD General Nourl
    • Q&A with Principal Dancer Kenji Kobayashi
      Kenji Thumb Questions En Header2
    • Catching Peak Colors
      3girls Autumncolors Carol Sunny Jane
    • Artist Spotlight: Carol Huang
      HuangYue Landscape Header DSC03826 EN7
    • Q&A with Dancer Felix Sun
      Felix Thumb Questions En Webthumb
    • Feature Article: Conductor Ying Chen
      Chen Ying Thumb
    Most Popular
    • All
    • News
    • Blog
  • 1 Dragon Kings of Mythistory
  • 2 Ancient Lifehack: Don’t Fall for the Chill
  • 3 Shen Yun 2023: Ready, Set…
  • 4 A Story of Selfless Beauty
  • 5 Q&A with Principal Dancer Kenji Kobayashi
  • 6 Introducing: Shen Yun Collections Retail Store
  • 7 Catching Peak Colors
  • 8 Artist Spotlight: Evangeline Zhu
  • 9 ‘Tis the Season to Give Thanks
  • 10 Q&A with Dancer Lillian Parker
  • Show More
  • 1 Shen Yun 2023: Ready, Set…
  • 2 Q&A with Principal Dancer Kenji Kobayashi
  • 3 Introducing: Shen Yun Collections Retail Store
  • 4 Catching Peak Colors
  • 5 Artist Spotlight: Evangeline Zhu
  • 6 Q&A with Dancer Lillian Parker
  • 7 Photos from Tour: A Jump Start to the 2023 Season
  • 8 How To Enjoy the Lunar New Year at Home
  • Show More
  • 1 Ancient Lifehack: Don’t Fall for the Chill
  • 2 ‘Tis the Season to Give Thanks
  • Show More

    Tags

    • Classical Chinese Dance
    • Traditional Chinese Culture
    • Chinese Ethnic Groups
    • Folk Traditions
    Shen Yun logo golden
    Shen Yun logo golden

    Shen Yun Performing Arts is the world's premier classical Chinese dance and music company, established in New York in 2006. It performs classical Chinese dance, ethnic and folk dance, and story-based dance, with orchestral accompaniment and solo performers. For 5,000 years, divine culture flourished in the land of China. Through breathtaking music and dance, Shen Yun is reviving this glorious culture. Shen Yun, or 神韻, can be translated as: “The beauty of divine beings dancing.”

    About
  • New to Shen Yun?
  • Shen Yun Symphony Orchestra
  • Challenges We Face
  • Shen Yun & Spirituality
  • Meet the Artists
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Employment Opportunities
  • Videos
  • Latest & Featured
  • About Shen Yun
  • Meet the Artists
  • Reviews
  • News & Blog
  • What’s New
  • Featured
  • News
  • Blog
  • Reviews
  • Explore
  • Chinese Dance
  • Music
  • Vocal Music
  • Shen Yun Costumes
  • Digital Projection
  • Shen Yun Props
  • Stories and History
  • Shen Yun and Traditional Chinese Culture
  • Interact with us:
    Sign Our Guestbook
    Get to Know More about Shen Yun
    on Our Streaming Platform
    Arts Proficiency Assessment Center
    Keepsakes and Premium Collections
    Inspired by Shen Yun
    Shen Yun Dancer
    Shen Yun Performing Arts Official Website Copyright ©2023 Shen Yun Performing Arts. All Rights Reserved.
    Contact us Terms Privacy Site map