FLOWER DANCE HERITAGE : HISTORY , PRESERVATION,CONTINUITY AND CULTURAL TRANSMISSION

Abstract

Fengyang Flower Drum Fitness Exercises is an innovative concept that merges the traditional Fengyang Flower Drum art with the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. This practice is rooted in over 600 years of cultural history from Fengyang County, Anhui Province. The exercise is based on the dance movements of the national intangible cultural heritage titled "Fengyang Flower Drum," and it has been scientifically adapted into a gymnastics system that combines aesthetic rhythm with fitness benefits. This study focuses on the mechanisms of inheritance and innovation found within the music and dance movements of three distinct works derived from the Fengyang Flower Drum tradition. Using an interdisciplinary analytical approach, it examines how Xiao Qinghong organizes various important elements of traditional Fengyang flower drum art and incorporates them into modern physical fitness practices. From the perspective of music and dance studies, this paper aims to uncover the theoretical logic and intuition behind the "dynamic inheritance of intangible cultural heritage" (ICH) evident in Xiao Qinghong’s Flower Drum Fitness Exercise. The research introduces Xiao Qinghong's "Trinity" inheritance framework, which encompasses four aspects: the preservation of the musical essence; the meaningfulness of movements; the collaboration of costumes and props; and the inheritance pathways, with a particular focus on educational, beginning with children. Furthermore, this study extracts the theoretical foundations of Xiao Qinghong’s "dynamic inheritance of intangible cultural heritage" through music and dance research. This research addresses a significant gap in the existing literature, specifically the lack of in-depth studies on Flower drum fitness exercises in the field of music and dance studies. Beyond bridging this gap, it establishes a theoretical framework for the contemporary transformation of traditional artistic forms, offering both academic insights and practical guidance. Methodologically, this thesis employs a descriptive research approach.

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