Miao heritage dance takes stage at World Boxing Cup closing ceremony

A traditional Miao ethnic dance from Wudang district, Guiyang city, was featured at the closing ceremony of the 2026 World Boxing Cup on June 21, offering audiences from China and abroad a glimpse into the distinctive charm of the district's intangible cultural heritage.

Actors dressed in traditional clothing perform the Stick and Drum Dances at the Huapo Festival at the closing ceremony of the 2026 World Boxing Cup on June 21. [Photo/WeChat account of Wudang district]

The World Boxing Cup, held in China for the first time, brought together leading pugilists from around the world. The closing ceremony, held in Guiyang, also provided a platform for cultural exchange, with Wudang's original performance, Stick and Drum Dances at the Huapo Festival, among the featured presentations.

Inspired by a local Miao folk tradition passed down for centuries, the performance combines the stick and drum dances with elements of the Huapo Festival, when people traditionally prayed for favorable weather, bountiful harvests, good health, and fertility. The newly choreographed work retains the tradition's rich cultural character while creating a vibrant and visually engaging stage experience.

Recognized as provincial-level intangible cultural heritage in Wudang district, the stick and drum dances have been practiced for hundreds of years. They were traditionally performed during the Miao people's Huapo gatherings and other festive occasions, carrying local memories and deep ethnic sentiment.

At the ceremony, dancers dressed in colorful Miao costumes moved and leaped to the powerful beat of drums, holding brightly decorated sticks. The crisp sound of the sticks striking together and the ever-changing formations brought the folk art to life on stage.