Yingge dance

Yingge Dance (also spelled Ying Ge), also known as Yangge or Yingge, originated in the mid-Ming dynasty. It is a form of Chinese folk square dance in the Chaoshan region of Guangdong, integrating elements of Southern-style martial arts and Chinese opera into a unified local art form. It is especially popular in the Chaopu-Huilu area (Chaoyang, Puning, Huilai, and Lufeng). Performers wear face paint representing heroes of Liangshan, or carry cudgels or hand drums, forming and transforming various formations in rhythm with the drums. The performance style is bold and vigorous. On May 20, 2006, Yingge was inscribed into the first list of 518 items of China’s National Intangible Cultural Heritage.