DANCING TEA LEAVES: BODILY AESTHETICS AND CULTURAL MEANINGS IN THE MOVEMENT TECHNIQUES OF GANNAN TEA-PICKING DANCE

Abstract

This study examines the distinctive movement techniques of the Gannan Tea-Picking Dance to reveal how bodily aesthetics and cultural symbolism express the lived experiences and resilient spirit of the Gannan people. The continuous advancement of China’s efforts to safeguard traditional culture has led to the inclusion of this dance—one of the oldest living folk traditions—on the national Intangible Cultural Heritage list. Renowned for its humor, vivid expressiveness, agile movements, and lively rhythms, the dance is characterized by three distinctive techniques: the Dwarf Step, Single Sleeve, and Fan Flower. These techniques are not only visually recognizable in performance but also embody rich layers of bodily aesthetics, folkloric symbolism, and cultural memory, serving as key features that distinguish the Gannan Tea-Picking Dance from other folk traditions. Through a qualitative research method and choreological approach, this paper analyzes these three movement techniques in terms of movement structure, expressive function, and cultural connotation. The findings reveal that the dance reenacts tea-picking and production scenes, transforming labor into an artistic expression of everyday life. Ultimately, this paper highlights the unique artistic charm and profound cultural significance of the Gannan Tea-Picking Dance, contributing to broader understandings of bodily technique and aesthetic traditions in the folk dances of southern Jiangxi, China.