Chaoshan dancers leap mid-air during an intense Yingge routine, showcasing their martial arts-inspired moves.
A HIGH-octane traditional dance from China’s Chaoshan region has struck a chord in Sandakan, igniting cultural pride among Teochew youth and curiosity across ethnic lines.
Yingge, or “heroic dance”, made its rousing debut at the Sandakan Teochew Association’s anniversary celebration recently, featuring 13 young performers from Chaoshan who wowed the crowd with a performance blending martial arts, rhythm and theatrical storytelling.
The troupe’s first-ever overseas appearance left a deep impression on local audiences as dancers in vibrant costumes wielded wooden batons in fast-paced, thunderous routines inspired by Water Margin heroes.
Coach Zhang Zhongjie, who led the team, said he was surprised and moved by the warm reception in Sandakan.
“We always thought Yingge was something unique to Chaoshan, but here, the community’s passion for preserving tradition touched us deeply. This is more than a performance – it’s a cultural bridge,” he said.
Zhang added that most of his team members, aged between seven and 18, had trained for years to master Yingge’s physically demanding choreography, which combines martial arts precision with expressive dance.
A five-day training and cultural exchange workshop hosted at Yuk Yuen Secondary School saw enthusiastic participation from people of all ages – including children, youths and elderly Teochew descendants eager to reconnect with their roots.
Among them was 17-year-old Wang Jianjie, who is not of Teochew descent but attended after his mother encouraged him to give it a try.
“I joined out of curiosity, but I ended up loving it. Yingge isn’t just a dance – it connects us to something powerful and meaningful,” he said.
“At first, I didn’t know what to expect, but once I started learning the movements and rhythms, I found it exciting. I even invited some of my friends to join – it’s fun and meaningful.”
Children, adults, and seniors alike joined the Yingge workshop in Sandakan, eager to learn the martial-arts inspired dance.
Teochew youth Wang Zhengnan said the experience helped him better understand his heritage.
Many participants have since expressed interest in forming a local Yingge troupe, and plans are under way to sustain training through digital exchanges after the team’s return to China.
The Teochew people trace their ancestry to the Chaoshan region in eastern Guangdong province, and Yingge has long been regarded as one of its most iconic folk traditions.
Sandakan Teochew Association chairman Datuk Edward Khoo Get Ngian said the idea of bringing Yingge to Sabah had been in his heart since 1997, when he first witnessed the electrifying performance during the World Teochew Convention in Chaozhou.
“I was deeply moved by its energy and spirit. I knew then that I wanted our people in Sandakan to experience it, especially the younger generation,” he said.
He said Yingge is more than just a performance – it’s a symbolic art form that represents resilience, unity and Teochew identity.
Its adaptability, whether performed on stage or in a street parade, gives it broad appeal.
Khoo hoped the workshop would lay the foundation for Sabah’s first Yingge troupe – and possibly the second in Malaysia after Johor – with experienced participants guiding others in the future.
Youths from Chaoshan demonstrate the high-energy Yingge performance during a rehearsal in Sandakan.
“The workshop is just a start. Once we build a base, we can slowly expand and pass it down,” he said.
He also stressed that cultural exchange should not be one-sided. While bringing Yingge to Sabah is a milestone, he hopes Sabah’s own Chinese traditions, like Chao Yue Shi, can eventually be showcased abroad.
“One day, we hope to bring our local Teochew musical heritage back to China or even further. Cultural exchange should go both ways,” he said.
Khoo added that while many young Teochews today can’t speak the dialect, efforts are ongoing to revive traditional music and introduce instruments in schools.
“If we can’t pass on the language, we must pass on the spirit,” he said.
With strong turnout and growing interest, the association hopes to make cultural exchanges with Chaoshan a regular part of its programmes – perhaps every few months instead of just once a year.
