As a kind of popular dance of the Dai people in Yunnan Province, the elephant foot drum dance is based on the Dai martial arts(武术) and mainly performed by males(男性). A traditional musical instrument called the elephant foot drum is played in the dance. This dance was first used to welcome the new year. Now it is a way for the Dai people to show their joy as well as their village
culture. It also shows that the Dai people are friendly.
Xie Wenping, an experienced drum maker, said that making an elephant-foot drum is not easy and it takes about 30 steps and one month. After picking the wood, Xie needs to carve(雕刻) the wood into an elephant-leg-like shape and make the inside empty. The drum surface is made of cow leather(牛皮), which needs several steps such as leather selection(选择), cleaning, air-drying and so on. Then comes the painting. The finishing steps include tuning(调音) and polishing the leather.
Bo Hanming, 55, has been interested in the elephant foot drum dance since his childhood. He
started to learn the dance systematically(系统地) at 23. After years of practice, he has become a famous dancer and is invited to perform at all kinds of festivals and ceremonies(庆典). Under his influence, many young people come to learn the dance from him. So far, he has taught 132 students and some of them even become masters and teach their own students. Through their efforts, more and more people are deeply interested in this traditional art.
Both Xie and Bo think it is their responsibility to carry on the dance. In their opinion, all of the Dai elephant-foot drum dancers will continue to pass on this great traditional art in their own way.