Artists of a Ulan Muqir art troupe in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which has been performing for grassroots communities since the 1950s, have made unremitting efforts to prolong the decades-long customized performance.
Uyangaa, a 26-year-old dancer, joined the Ulan Muqir Troupe of Sunite Right Banner three years ago. She said she would carry forward the Ulan Muqir spirit which has been passed on from generation to generation.
"We are passing on the spirit of Ulan Muqir that we inherited from our predecessors. As the younger generation, we will continue to carry forward the works of art as well as the ethnic culture," Uyangaa said.
Established in 1957, this Ulan Muqir troupe has around 40 members, of whom 80 percent are ethnic Mongolians.
"No matter how big the stage is, no matter how big the audience is, as professionals we should be responsible for each one of them by performing at our best," said another member of the troupe.
"Nearly all the team members are children of herdsmen. We grew up on the grassland, riding horses and camels, and living in yurts. And then we learned our ethnic culture and art. We hope to carry forward this most primitive traditional culture," said Oyunjargal, deputy captain of the troupe.
Members of the troupe are versatile, holding down multiple jobs from counseling to roles in culture heritage. They also help deliver the latest news and policies to the locals.
"The Ulan Muqir troupe has been volunteering to spread the latest policies and guidelines to grassroots communities. In addition to performing, they also help us to fight drought and wash sheep, among other areas. I think the troupe is a role model for our herdsmen," said Tungalag, a local herder.
Currently, there are 75 Ulan Muqir troupes in Inner Mongolia. They shuttle from pasture to pasture, performing for herding families in the most far-flung areas, besides entertaining audiences in concert halls and town squares. Each year, they stage around 7,000 performances to the prairies.
Over the past decades, the Ulan Muqir troupes across Inner Mongolia have absorbed cultural nourishment and creative materials from nearly 4,000 intangible cultural heritage projects, and incorporated them into diverse artistic performances. They've helped to establish a unique model of heritage preservation and public cultural services.
Artists of Ulan Muqir art troupe make dedicated performances for grassroots herdsmen
