Bring Pingshan kylin dance to life through motion capture

Pingshan kylin dancers at Dawan Ancestral Residence in this undated file photo. Photo by Liu Xudong

Pingshan District, in partnership with Shenzhen University's School of Sports, has embarked on a groundbreaking initiative utilizing motion capture technology to preserve and promote the legacy of the Pingshan kylin dance, an esteemed intangible cultural heritage.

Kylins are revered as auspicious symbols, representing protection, prosperity, success, and longevity in Chinese culture, and the kylin dance has a history of more than 300 years. The Pingshan kylin dance is a city-level and provincial-level intangible cultural heritage. Festive occasions in Pingshan are often graced with lively kylin dance parades and performances.

The collaboration between Pingshan and Shenzhen University's School of Sports started in May at Dawan Ancestral Residence, a Hakka compound constructed in 1791. Wang Dong, the vice dean of the School of Sports, heralded this as China's first motion capture project for recording the kylin dance. Wang said that they are documenting the intricate dance movements to lay the groundwork for future cultural protection endeavors.

Expressing profound admiration for the kylin dance‘s significance, a Hakka student surnamed Luo shared his thoughts on the project’s potential to transform cultural heritage into popular art forms through motion capture technology, saying it will foster broader appreciation and understanding of intangible cultural heritage, particularly Hakka traditions.

During the summer break, the project team diligently captured over 3,000 photos of the Pingshan kylin dance and conducted insightful interviews. The project will also include a series of educational events in schools to raise awareness of Hakka culture. A specialized kylin dance course for primary and middle school students is expected to launch next year to delve into this rich cultural tradition.