Culture China Tour丨Tibet Ding Qing: Joyful Reba Dancing the Plateau-中国通讯社

The members of the Wuba Village Art Performance Team, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet are waiting for rehearsal (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

The drumsticks fell and the drum beats rang. The girls danced gracefully, and the guys flicked. On Caoba, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet, the Wuba Village Art Performance Team is rehearsing Reba dance. Ani, the 60-year-old inheritor of Zuhuareba dance, guided his apprentices' dance movements. He shouted loudly: "Press harder and beat the drum harder." Reba dance is a kind of inspiration, and also a comprehensive performance art that integrates speech, singing, dancing and acrobatics. In 2006, it was included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list. Dingqing County has the reputation of "Reba Art Hometown", and 68 villages (communities) across the county have Reba Art Performance Teams. Ani said: "I started learning Reba dance with my mother since I was 14." He recalled that after my mother finished her farm work, the children would sit around her and listen to her talk about the history of Reba dance. Not long after, he became fascinated by this traditional ancient dance art, and this dance lasted for 46 years. At 60 years old, Ani still loved Reba dance deeply. He said, "Sometimes I watch others dance Reba dance, and I am eager to try it out when I sit in the audience." Now, he is mainly responsible for the teaching and inheritance of Reba dance. In recent years, he has trained more than 100 Reba dance apprentices. Ani hopes that his apprentices can bring Reba dance to a bigger and better stage, so that more people can see the style of Reba dance.

The members of the Wuba Village Art Performance Team in Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet are waiting for rehearsal (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

The art performance team in Wuba Village, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet is dancing Reba dance (photo on January 5, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

The art performance team in Wuba Village, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet is dancing Reba dance (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

Ani, the inheritor of Zuhua Reba in Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet, is dancing Reba dance (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

Ani, the inheritor of Zuhuareba, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet, explains the key points of the action to his apprentices (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

The art performance team in Wuba Village, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet is dancing Reba dance (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

Ani, the inheritor of Zuhua Reba, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet, is wearing dance clothes (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

This is Wuba Village, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet (photo on January 5, drone photo). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

The art performance team in Wuba Village, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet is dancing Reba dance (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

Some members of the Wuba Village Art Performance Team in Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet took a group photo (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida

The art performance team in Wuba Village, Chidu Town, Dingqing County, Changdu City, Tibet is dancing Reba dance (photo on January 5). Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Ding Zengnida