Hohhot’s taste of global folk talent
Platform for performances from around the world lets artists boost mutual understanding
For the people of Hohhot, capital of the Inner Mongolia autonomous region, it was a feast of performances like no other — ranging from Chinese acrobatics and Brazilian
capoeira, to Russian dances and a South Korean drum show.
The 11th China International Folk Arts Festival saw 600 artists from 13 countries showcasing their talents at the recent sixday event. They visited suburban areas of Hohhot to perform in the open air for free.
The event, organized by the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, is held every three years. It is essentially a platform for artists from home and abroad to exchange views and boost mutual understanding.
“The arts have no boundaries. It (the event) was a great opportunity for artists to communicate about music and dance,” said Peng Fei, chairman of the Hohhot National Performing Arts Group.
The Hohhot artists performed a chorus with music from the iconic Mongolian horsehead fiddle.
Peng said three troupes of the Hohhot group stage over 500 performances across the city every year. They also provide young people free training, as such opportunities are rare in remote regions.
The performers also visit mountainous areas with bad roads. On one occasion, it was raining, but they just took their instruments and walked until they reached their destination.
“Our responsibility is to promote traditional Mongolian singing and dancing, and pass on its spirit and happiness, especially in the grassroots areas. Our performers visit the houses of the elderly and perform for them,” said Peng.
Xia Rui, choreographer of the Youth of China street-dance group and deputy director of the China Hip-Hop Union Committee affiliated with the Chinese Dancers Association, said dancers in the 21 to 22 age group are from all over the country, including the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan.
“Our choreography is based on the integration of their different styles, and our street dance represents the positive attitude of young Chinese. These dancers love street dance, and that is why they were brought together for the performance,” he said.
The committee was founded six years ago. And there are over 3 million professional street dancers on the Chinese mainland, Xia said.
The reality show Street Dance of China has helped promote the genre.
Muborak Mirzaeva, head of the Uzbek dance group National Dance Ensemble Sabo, said: “The group’s dancing expresses inner feelings with graceful and flexible hand gestures. The dance is an important cultural symbol that our country is striving to protect.”
Uzbekistan has had trade and cultural exchanges with China since ancient times.
The Vanuatu Youth Folk Dance Ensemble, consisting of about 20 performers, also performed at the event.
Peter Kalo, a member of the troupe, who is a university student in Beijing, said: “We wanted to wow the Chinese with our traditional dances, which also express our country’s culture. We spent a lot of time practicing.”
The troupe performed the akoe, a typical festive dance of Vanuatu, with a joyful and passionate tempo, at the opening of the event.
The Republic of Vanuatu, a part of the Melanesian Archipelago, comprises 83 islands.
Dong Zhanshun, director of the festival committee, said: “Overseas artists are not only interested in traditional Chinese culture but also in our country’s economic development and urbanization.”
Recalling the first festival held in 1990, he said it was rare to see foreigners in China, so locals liked any overseas program. But the situation is different now.
“As there are more cultural exchange activities, it is challenging to find quality programs that meet the tastes of Chinese audiences,” he said.