Karajiaoleha of Kazak nationality

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: karajiaoleha of Kazak nationality

Applicant: Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Project No.: 1100

Project No.: Ⅲ - 111

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional dance

Region: Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Institute of culture and art of Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture

Brief introduction to karajiaoleha of Kazak nationality

Applicant: Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region

Karajiaoleha is the most representative folk dance of Kazakh, which is widely spread in Kazakh residential areas in Xinjiang.

Karajiaoleha is a Kazakh language, which means "black walking horse". Horse is an indispensable partner in Kazakh life. Riding on the black horse is like entering the artistic realm of people in dance and horse in dance, so karajiaoleha has become the name of Kazakh Folk Music and dance.

Karajiaoleha can perform in large-scale happy gatherings or in small yurts; it can dance alone, in pairs or in groups; the dance method varies from person to place; the dance moves are full of life flavor and rich in performance content. Typical programs include bear dance, Eagle dance, rolling carpet dance, milking dance, embroidery dance, ramen dance, etc.

Karajiaoleha's men's movements are brisk, powerful and vigorous, especially simulating the walking, running and jumping dance of the black walking horse, with a degree of relaxation; women's movements are graceful, relaxed and lively. Dancers can play freely according to their own level, constantly add new content and movements, and often blend various dynamic features of labor and life into the dance, which makes the dance vocabulary and performance content of karajiaoleha more rich and diverse.

Karajiaoleha is accompanied by the traditional Kazakh musical instrument Dongbula. The musicians change the rhythm according to the speed of the performers' dance movements. The lively music has a strong sense of rhythm, and the melody is like a horse galloping on the grassland.

With the acceleration of Xinjiang's modernization process, karajiaoleha, a Kazakh Folk Music and dance with great traditional cultural value, is gradually replaced by modern song and dance, which is in urgent need of protection.