Artistic Traditions and Contemporary Development of the Stage Performance Practices Among Wa (Yunnan Province, China)

DOI: 10.33876/2311-0546/2025-1/53-71

Abstract

This paper investigates the market dynamics and social mobility of the Wa entertainers, who are involved in music, dance, and other performing arts within China's contemporary urban cultural tourism sector. Unlike intangible cultural heritage bearers, who are often elderly, the Wa entertainer community predominantly comprises young members from their own ethnic group. Through a series of oral history interviews and participant observation conducted by the author in Mashan Village, Yunnan Province (a primary source of the Wa artists) and Kunming City (a major destination), the study uncovers the diversity within the community. Key findings indicate that the living conditions and lifestyle choices of the Wa entertainers not only affect the vitality of the Wa song-and-dance performing arts scene but also the broader development of the ethnic group, given the dual embeddedness of the Wa artists in both urban and rural settings. To foster transformative growth among the Wa entertainers, the study proposes strategies that include transitioning from a live to a mediated performance, shifting from off-site professional endeavors to local artistic community integration, and increasing government investment in human capital, all while preserving traditional apprenticeship systems. The article is published in English.