Artists perform for Inner Mongolian herders
Artists from Shanghai and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region performed for residents in the pastoral areas of Xilingol League Sonid Right Banner on August 16-17.
On a mobile stage, the artists sang, danced and played the erhu and horse-head string instruments on August 17. The night before, they presented an outdoor gala despite the rain.
The performers included baritone Liao Changyong, composer Gong Tianpeng, dancers from Shanghai Dance Theater and artists from the Inner Mongolian Bureau of National Arts Troupes.
“The rain doesn’t bother us. We are grateful for the artists from Shanghai to offer us such great performances right at our neighborhood,” said an audience member.
Bringing performances to herders scattered on the pastoral area has been a tradition in Sonid Right Banner with a group of artists called Wulanmuqi, literally “red sprout,” founded in 1957. The initial nine-member group has grown into one of 47 artists who travel more than 40,000 kilometers a year, staging around 100 performances around the area.
The team was also credited as a “mobile kindergarten” in the 1970s, as they first brought puppet shows from Shanghai to children in the pastoral area.
“It has been our promise that we should never leave out one yurt in the region,” said the leader of Wulanmuqi.
Gong said it had been an unforgettable experience.
“It reminded me of the initial motive for my creation,” said Gong. “They are for the people, or precisely, the ordinary residents. They are the ultimate first party for we artists.”
