I’m writing this posting after a wonderful Dong performance of dancing and singing in the town of Zhaoxing, Guizhou China. By wonderful, I mean relieving. Let me explain.
In the past week on three occasions I have been summoned to take part in communal dancing by various ethnic minorities. In KaiLi the dancing was downright sadistic. Forming a giant chain with linked arms that snaked around itself, this Miao dance involved villagers trying their very hardest to smash their incredibly bony pelvises into your body. Though I’m a modest 5’9,” the average height of these relentless Miao dancers was much smaller. This meant that their pointy hips were slamming into the upper part of my legs – which as some of you who have siblings may know creates a nerve-numbing eruption of pain. Though I did my best to punish the small Miao men and women around me, 5 minutes later I staggered limping from the dance circle knowing that I was not victorious.
The dancing in WuGao was less traumatic but involved the smashing of stools together while stomping around a room. Several miscounted measures and crushed fingers later, I hid in the corner wondering why these peaceful farmers were so inclined to create violent dances. Conclusion: dancing Miao farmers aren’t sober and aren’t delicate, pale, college students.
Needless to say PTSD started to kick in this evening when a beautiful Dong woman adorned with copious jewelry and covered in a layer of makeup (which made her appear slightly clown-like) approached me with an outstretched hand. Prior to this invitation to dance, I had been sitting tranquilly and safely in my front row seat. Yet, behind her carefully crafted and adorable exterior I knew she had the powers to embarrass and bludgeon foreigners.
Moments later I was holding hands in a communal circle bearing a shakily large smile in a typical Nervous Nancy fashion. This time however, there would be no celebratory charlie horses, and the group dance ended with my spirits and quads intact.
More harrowing updates from the field to come
-Nick