First, sleeves and sleeve dancing.
(1) The concept of sleeve and sleeve dance 1. The concept of sleeve is a dance prop of costume culture used by actors in dance performances. It not only has the function of clothing, but also has the property of props. Sleeves are driven by the dancer's body dance, which is as controllable as props. A sleeve includes a sleeve body and a sleeve body. Sleeve body refers to the part of clothing worn on the body, and sleeve body refers to the long-sleeved part extending outward at the cuff of clothing. 2. Concept of Sleeve Dance Sleeve dance is a kind of dance with unique sleeves as props, and it is one of the typical dance styles that can best represent the traditional aesthetic characteristics of China. Sleeve dance combines appreciation, artistry and expressiveness. Its long history and unique temperament simply reflect the unique cultural connotation and aesthetic taste of China dance, and it has unique aesthetic character and artistic value.
(2) The origin of sleeve and sleeve dance can be explained by the simple word "long sleeves and good dancing". The sleeves of the Chinese nation that take off their coats are the source of sleeves. After historical precipitation, it is extended and exaggerated while pursuing beauty, forming a unique "water sleeve". As we all know, the sleeves in China classical dance are extracted from the "water sleeves" of China opera. So, how did the name "Shuixiu" come from? In fact, the earliest name of sleeves is "water jacket". With the development, the sleeves of the water jacket gradually became longer and wider, forming the sleeves we see today. Because the sleeve dance is shaped like a water wave, it is called "water sleeve". In this fertile land of history and culture, sleeve dance can only be developed and perfected by constantly absorbing and inheriting the essence and constantly innovating.
Second, the historical development and the evolution of contemporary forms of expression of water sleeves
Only when a tree has roots can it flourish, and sleeve dance also has roots of growth and spread, deeply standing in the soil of folk art. Sleeve dance has experienced thousands of years of historical changes. With the change of dynasties and the evolution of culture, the form and style of sleeve dance have also changed. Or pious and crazy, or charming and graceful, or ingenious, or carefree and elegant, or luxurious and dignified, or refined.
(1) The development of sleeves in primitive times was in the ancient times when dance art originated. Primitive religion was inextricably linked with dance art, and dance art was a means and activity of religious ceremony. Witchcraft dance is a typical example in ancient China. In China ancient prose, witchcraft and dance are interlinked, and the word "ring" is the writing of the word "sleeve" in ancient times. It can be seen that "sleeve" was originally a hand-held dance tool in the ritual dance. From the word "Huan", we can see the image of picking "He" with "hand", which embodies the dynamic of "pulling his ear when he is ripe". The ear of rice in the original "sleeve dance" is an object with clear meaning in religious activities, and the form of the dance has been influenced, and props and costumes have become a major feature of China dance.
(2) The development of sleeves in Han Dynasty Sleeve dance reached its peak in Han Dynasty. According to historical records, Mrs. Qi is good at dancing with her sleeves bent down. In the Han dynasty, long sleeves were divided into two shapes: slender dance sleeves and angular wide long sleeves. Thus, the development of "sleeve dance" has two directions. One is that the long sleeves extend longitudinally and the cuffs have long ribbons; The other is that the sleeve style is slightly shorter, which is the origin of the evolution of "water sleeves" and later became one of the indispensable artistic expressions of China classical opera. Another form of dance is the towel dance, which is called "towel dance". From these beautiful words, we can see the moving features of sleeve dance in Han Dynasty, such as "Luo Yi flies with the wind, crossing with long sleeves", "Long sleeves show flying clothes, dancing with a thin waist" and "Jun is like a phoenix, and sleeves are like snow". Thin waist and long sleeves, the same strain. After processing and creation, it is more ingenious and exquisite. Sleeve dancing in Han dynasty has exquisite skills. For example, the longer the towel sleeve dance, the more difficult it is. The longer the towel, the higher the requirements for the dancer's arm strength and skills. For example, the dynamic of large lateral bending puts forward high requirements for the flexibility of the body, focusing on the changes of waist strength and sleeve shape; For example, Zhao's pursuit of "palm dance" is "fast and light" and so on.
(III) Development of Sleeves in the Sui and Tang Dynasties During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, feudal society rose to a peak, and music and dance art, especially court music and dance, also entered a prosperous stage. Sleeve dance has become the tradition of music and dance culture in the Central Plains, which nourishes the development of dance. There are two development directions of sleeve dance in Tang Dynasty. One direction is the development of long sleeves. "Fine waist and bright moon, long-sleeved and good at dancing in the spring breeze" shows that the Tang Dynasty inherited the traditional long-sleeved and good at dancing from the previous generation. The other direction is the development of wide sleeves. "Dancing with wide sleeves like a bird from the East" illustrates the form of "wide sleeves". From the wide sleeves, we can see the luxury and atmosphere of sleeve dance in Tang Dynasty. The use of dance towel, wind belt, long sleeves and waist softening techniques is gentle, smooth and lyrical. Sometimes the long sleeves flutter, sometimes the sleeves dance slowly, sometimes the sleeves are raised and rotated, sometimes the long sleeves fly, and sometimes the sleeves suddenly fly. The postures and techniques of various sleeves are the continuation and development of the dance style of "thin waist and long sleeves" in Tang Dynasty. Even though the shape of sleeves has changed, the rhythm of body movements in sleeve dance has been deeply rooted.
(IV) Development of Sleeves in Ming and Qing Dynasties From the trend of folk culture in Song and Yuan Dynasties, we can see the important phenomenon of dance development, and the art of traditional Chinese opera stood out and established its independent position. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, traditional operas and dances in China gradually matured and became popular. In this process, sleeve dance constantly adapts to the performance procedures and requirements of traditional Chinese opera, and is integrated into the art of singing, reading, doing and playing, becoming a highly concise means of expression, and "water sleeve" has also become a unique skill. On the basis of the previous generation of sleeve dance, traditional Chinese opera sleeve focuses on the development and enrichment of sleeve technique, and develops sleeve as a special technique to serve the performance of characters and plots in traditional Chinese opera. The sleeve of traditional Chinese opera not only changed the traditional aesthetic of sleeve dance, but also enriched the traditional expressive skills and means. It can also be said that sleeve dance has a strong "language" because of the concentrated development of traditional Chinese opera sleeve skills.
(V) Evolution of contemporary sleeve dance performance forms In the contemporary era, the pursuit and development of sleeve dance need to transcend historical traditions and become a language mechanism, which can shape the image of China's classical culture, express China people's feelings and extend to modern aesthetic taste. This is of great practical significance to the development of traditional sleeve dance in China. Since the "China Classical Dance" was formally established in 1950s, while the classical dance in China has been innovated, the sleeve dance technology has also made a breakthrough, especially the appearance of the body rhyme of the classical dance, and the sleeve dance has developed into an independent prop body rhyme. With the help of dance performances, we can appreciate the charm of today's sleeve dance. Professor Sheng Peiqi injected new elements into sleeve dance, giving it new breath and temperature. She also suggested that the relationship between sleeves and waist, center of gravity and pace should run through the requirements of posture, so that the dancer's body and sleeves can become a complete and unified combination. The perfection and maturity of sleeve dance is the contemporary extension of the national cultural spirit of China classical dance and the embodiment of the contemporary construction of traditional dance style.
Concluding remarks
A brief analysis of the historical development of China classical dance sleeves is to analyze and summarize the development, historical development, techniques and beauty of sleeves from a macro perspective. Rich and gorgeous sleeve dance has absorbed many beautiful dynamic and static dances after a long artistic river. In the graceful charm of rotation, echo and flow, it shows the infinite charm of strangeness, elegance and softness, and creates brilliant oriental art. Sleeve dancing is like a clear spring, fresh, elegant and graceful. It embodies China's unique artistic pursuit of lines and rich dance vocabulary, and embodies the infinite artistic conception of change, evolution and illusion.
I hope it helps you.