Photo: Chen Yalin
陈亚林 摄
As an entertainment, the Yi marriage dance Amei Qituo, popular among the Yi ethnic group in the mountains of Sanbao Township, Qinglong County, SW China"s Guizhou Province, once faced the plight of being lost. It is the passion and adherence of Qinglong people for generations in those difficult years that has made it the best-known name card for Qinglong both home and abroad.
作为歌舞类项目，藏在贵州晴隆县三宝彝族乡深山中的彝族出嫁舞“阿妹戚托”曾一度面临传承断绝的困境。是饱含着热情的晴隆人在艰难的岁月中几代人的坚守发展，使得今日“阿妹戚托”成为晴隆县走向全国乃至全世界的一张靓丽的文化名片。
Photo: Chen Yalin
陈亚林 摄
In Yi language, Ameirefers to the unmarried girl and Qituomarriage and wedding. As suggested, Amei Qituoindicates that a girl gets married. People usually danced Amei Qituoon a Yi girl"s wedding ceremony.
阿妹戚托是彝语，“阿妹”指未出嫁的姑娘，“戚托”意为出嫁、婚礼。阿妹戚托顾名思义，就是姑娘出嫁的意思，阿妹戚托舞就是彝族姑娘出嫁时跳的舞。
This is a special dance. People used to dance to no music but the percussion rhythms tapped out by their own footsteps and hands. But Amei Qituois a kind of group dance, so it is a great test of the dancers" rapports. Later, in order to better promote and spread the art, music and lyrics were added to it.
这是一种非常独特的舞蹈，最开始的阿妹戚托没有音乐，全程靠舞者的脚步和双手摆动作为节奏，又因为阿妹戚托是集体舞，因此十分考验舞者的默契。后来为了更好地推广和传播，加入了歌曲唱词。
It takes at least 1 hour or up to a whole day to dance Amei Qituo. Amei Qituofocuses on the movements of hips, knees and ankles to show the beauty of the dance. The dancers cooperate meticulously with each other to make an intriguing scene. The sound of a group of dancers stomping on the ground is like rumbles, which is very impressive, full of a strong visual impact and artistic appeal.
跳阿妹戚托短可一个小时，长可通宵达旦。阿妹戚托动作主要靠髋关节、膝关节、踝关节部位的运动变化来展示舞之美感。表演者相互配合默契，可达到丝丝入扣的境界，脚掌踩踏地面发出的踢踏之声极为脆响，人数多时脚步声随着节奏噼啪作响，十分震撼，有着极强的视觉冲击力和艺术感染力。
Photo: Chen Yalin
陈亚林 摄
Now, every night in the town"s square, music of Amei Qituowill ring out, and even kids who have just learned to walk will imitate the dancers to jump and stomp gaily.
现在，每天晚上在小镇颇具民族风情的广场上，都会响起阿妹戚托的歌声，就连才学会走路的孩子也在懵懂间模仿着蹦蹦跳跳。
Photo: Chen Yalin
陈亚林 摄
Reporter: Sun Jinnan
Editor: Wang Ziyi
Senior Editor: Min Jie
