A Study on the Transmission of the Biandan Dance, an Ethnic Folk Dance from China : Focusing on Jiafang Middle School in Guangxi Province

The Biandan dance of the Zhuang ethnic group in Guangxi, China, is a folk dance with a complex identity, blending entertainment, artistry, education, and physical exercise. While most Chinese ethnic folk dances are primarily preserved through university arts programs, the Biandan dance is taught in various forms to students across elementary, middle, and high schools. This study aims to analyze how the Biandan dance is taught to students at Jiafang Middle School in Guangxi, with the goal of providing a foundation for the development of programs to promote and transmit various other ethnic folk dances in other regions of China. The results of the analysis on the teaching of the Biandan dance at Jiafang Middle School are as follows. First, the teaching of the dance has been facilitated through policies and financial support provided by the local Chinese government. Second, Biandan dance classes are held weekly for first-year students, and a “Biandan Dance Choreography Competition” is organized every semester. Third, in addition to regular Biandan dance classes, special activity hours (exercise times) are allocated for creative activities, such as dance choreography and prop creation. Fourth, the school continuously promotes the folk culture of Guangxi on its bulletin boards and has established a folk culture exhibition room to introduce students to this aspect of traditional Chinese culture. This study is expected to expand public awareness of Chinese ethnic folk dances and encourage further educational and athletic activity related to them, while at the same time prompting a reevaluation of their cultural value to enhance transmission and development.