Chinese Ribbon Dance
Ribbon Dance is a traditional dance that has been performed for
than a 1000 years. The Chinese legend has it that Emperor
who ruled China from 713-755 AD had a dream that he was in the
moon palace with many fairies singing and dancing who were wearing
beautiful multicolored long robes. His dream was turned into
dance with the dancers using long silk ribbons. Each year
Ribbon Dance is performed at New Year celebrations and harvest
Music: Bu Bu Jiao Track 8 on
CD titled Christy Lane's Multicultural Folk Dance Vol
traditional Chinese instrumental music is appropriate.
Movements: Walking, Running, Skipping,
Equipment: Three foot red paper or plastic
streamers or a long red ribbon, one or two for each child. The
streamers or ribbons can be attached to an empty paper towel tube
or just held in the hand. Include a poster or chart paper
seven movements, Circles overhead, circles in the front of the
body, circles on the side of the body,Snakes horizontal or
vertical in front or on the side of the body (small curvy
movements), Turns, Letters of the name, and Figure 8 vertical and
Multiple lines or
random in personal space
Organize the students with 2-3
of space between them so they have room to move the streamers.
Teach the following movements
one streamer held in each hand or two streamers held in one hand,
one streamer held in one hand.
Circles: Circle the
in front of the body in a clockwise direction, circle the streamer
front of the body in a counterclockwise direction. Practice
right and left hands.
Circle the streamer in to the right side of the
in a clockwise direction,
then in a counterclockwise
direction. Practice with right hand on the right side and
hand on the left
Circle the streamer in over head in a
circle the streamer overhead in a counterclockwise
direction. Practice with right and left hands.
Snakes: Wave the streamer at
level from left to right and right to left. Make the snake
small and quick or large and quick. Practice with right and left
Wave the streamer starting high above the head
to the floor. Make the snake waves small and quick or large and
Practice with right and left hands.
streamer high and low or circle the streamer while turning to the
or left. Practice with right and left hands.
Roll: Make quick
small circles in
front of the body. The streamers will look like it is
Practice with right and left hands.
8: Move the
streamer in a figure 8 pathway in front of the body. This is
a sideways number 8. Practice with right and left hands.
Move the streamer in a figure 8 pathway in
the body. This is
like an upright number 8. Practice with right and left
Move the streamer in a figure 8 pathway over
head, also try to the side of the body. Practice with right
streamer in the pathway of a letter. This is like drawing
in the air and the streamer is the crayon. Try letters
in students names.
Travel: Move the
streamer using the circles, the snake,, the figure 8 or the
letters while walking, running, skipping, leaping or galloping .
Develop a sequence of the
for the students to follow as individuals. For example:
Organize students into partners
small groups of three. Ask students to choose three or four
they have learned and create their own Chinese Ribbon Dance.
- With the streamer in the right hand circle in front 4 times.
Switch to the left hand and circle in front 4 times.
- With the streamer in the right hand circle in overhead 4
Switch to the left hand and circle overhead 4 times.
- With the streamer in the right hand snake high to low 2
times Switch to the left hand and snake high to low 2
- Turn to the right and turn to the left.
- Perform 16 skips moving in a large circle while making figure
- Write the first letter of your name and freeze in a still
Or students can create small group dances using the following
Part 1: Entrance from a corner of the room to the center using a
locomotor movement, a way to move the streamer and a
formation. The group decides and performs in unison.
Part 2: Center Circle Dance. the group forms a circle in the
middle of the space and creates a sequence of two different
movements with the streamer. The group can decide on the
number of repetitions.
Part 3: Exit the space to return to the starting corner. The
group can use the same movements as the entrance or use different
locomotor movements and a way to move the streamer.
Part 4.: End shape. After the group returns to their
corner they make a still group shape that has a minimum of two
After each group has composed and practiced their dances. Each
group can present their dance to the other groups. The
teacher can number the order of the groups performance.