Traditional Li dance threatened by lack of heirs   

海南黎族文化面临衰落与失传危险

9日，“首届海南国际旅游岛少数民族生态文化节暨研讨会”在五指山市举行，期间，黎族服饰、传统纺染织绣技艺、钻木取火、舞蹈等黎族文化和苗族、回族、满族等民族传统文化一同进行了展示。

Wuzhishan (CNS) – Li minority people performed their traditional Dachai Dance at Hainan Province's first cultural festival of minorities in Wuzhishan on Sunday.

Dachai was only performed at funerals in the past, said 32-year-old troupe leader Huang Qihua, but it has become much more popular since it was named a national intangible cultural heritage.

Only my village in Sanya still preserves the dance, and there are only about 20 people there who know how to do it, he added.

Due to the lack of written language, the rich culture of the Li minority, including their traditional dance, is endangered, said Zhang Ersheng, an expert from Hainan University.

The young people of the Li minority should always love their culture and make time for it, said Wang Xueping, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the Hainan Provincial People's Congress.