"Prop" Dances
( 2005-09-13 )

A number of Uygur folk dances are performed using props, such as Plate, Sapayi and Stone-Beating ances. They are widely popular, but since great skills are required, they are performed mostly by professionals or veteran amateur artists.

The Plate Dance originated in ancient Kucha and is popular in Urumqi, Ili, Kashi and other cities and towns. The dancer places a bowl on his head and beats a small plate in his hand with a chopstick while performing various movements. The steps are basic Sanam steps. Arms are held horizontalally or one hand is placed on the head or at the side with the other remains on the chest.

The Sapayi is a folk instrument of theUygur ethnic minority. Two iron rings are attached to a 0.5-metre-long oval wooden stick covered on one end with tin. The dancer holds the stick in his right hand and strikes the tin end against his right shoulder or waves it back and forth so the iron rings produce a wonderful melodic sound. Danced by men, the Sapayi is popular in areas of southernXinjiang.

The steps of the Sapayi Dance include three steps and the lifting one foot, and stepping back and forth on toe, and squatting on one leg. Its tempo and movements become very fast on especially joyous occasions, so the movements must be sharp and in tempo.

The Stone-Beating Dance is named for another Uygur folk instrument. The dancer holds two stones in each hand and claps them to produce clear sounds while he stretches and bends his fingers and shakes his wrists. It too is danced by men, and is popular in Aksu, Kashi, Shache and Hotien in southern Xinjiang. The basic movements are those of Sanam. Stones are used as accompanying percussion instruments. As the music changes, the tempo becomes complex, and the dancers change their beatings of the stones.