Zhuoxie Dance
( 2005-10-17 )

Zhuoxie, which means song and dance, is popular in Lhasa and rural Shannan areas in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region as a group dance with oval waist drums.

Zhuoxie has always been performed at ceremonies of blessing and for entertaining guests. The villages of Nedong, Zalang, Qonggya, and Sagya in the Shannan region all have their own waist drum teams, most of whom perform the drum dance. Even numbers of people participate in the dance for the convenience of changing patterns.

The leader of the dance, the Zhuoben, wearing sheepskin and a mask, appears first. Holding tata (colored arrows), he stands in the center to conduct the dance and drumbeat. Sometimes he shouts out the drumbeat --One beat, three beats, five beats, seven beats, nine beats -- to coordinate the drumming and dancing.

Zhuoxie consists mainly of three parts.

The first part is entirely dance. Its slow tempo gradually quickens. The people dance to the drumbeat in changing patterns to express their feelings. Sometimes a special display of skill in beating the drums is given. The drum teams in Nedong County are known for their vigorous beating while shaking their heads.

The second part is singing. Holding tall feathers, the troupe members, in a semicircle facing the audience, sing songs to express their wishes for a happy occasion.

In the third part the performers beat the drums while singing. They conclude the performance with a bow to the audience.

Zhuoxie does not use any special musical instruments for accompaniment except for small bells fastened to the performers' waists.