The Maqiao Hand Lion Dance is a performance that evolved from the lion lantern in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and we can all see the festive and lively scene of the Maqiao Hand Lion Dance during the New Year's Festival. Not long ago, the list of representative inheritors of the sixth batch of national intangible cultural heritage was announced, and Zhao Xuelin, the inheritor of Maqiao's hand and lion dance skills, was on the list.
Zhao Xuelin is 62 years old this year, and has been on the road of inheriting the Maqiao hand lion dance for 36 years. For such a long time, he also thought about giving up, and after overcoming many difficulties, he persevered until now. 16 years ago, Zhao Xuelin "picked up" his current apprentice, Xiaoning from Shanxi. Now, it is no longer as difficult to collect disciples as it used to be.
In addition to Xiao Ning, he now has nearly 10,000 "apprentices", thanks to the project of intangible cultural heritage on campus. This year is the 23rd year that intangible cultural heritage has been brought to campus, and Zhao Xuelin has five hand lion dance classes every week. In recent years, Maqiao Town has been committed to promoting the publicity and development of the Hand Lion Dance, including the establishment of the Maqiao Hand Lion Dance Inheritance Studio, and the introduction of intangible cultural heritage into the campus, etc., to help Zhao Xuelin transform from a "top to three" craft inheritor to a teacher Zhao who everyone loves.
Zhao Xuelin said: "I am getting older, and I want to pass on some of the skills I have learned to them, so that they can take charge of themselves and pass on the hand lion dance better." ”
Reporter: Xu Yue, Wu Jiawei
Editor: Yao Yiying
Preliminary review: Chen Yiting
Re-examiner: He Tingting
Final review: Xu Leibing