Development of the ‘Yingge Dance’ course in Early Childhood Education Programmes: Integrating Guangdong’s Intangible Cultural Heritage into Higher Vocational Colleges and Universities

Abstract

A traditional folk dance of Guangdong Province, the Yingge dance has artistic merit and a rich cultural history. Yingge performers hold two sticks. The most important Chinese musical instrument in the Yingge dance is the drum, which is occasionally accompanied by cymbals and a gong. Yingge dancers perform in China for a range of occasions, including grand opening ceremonies and Chinese celebrations like the Lantern and spring festivals. The aim of this article is to investigate how students’ cultural background and knowledge base can be improved by including Yingge dance into dance education. The sample size consists of about 200 students. Data was divided into two groups, the experimental group enrolled in an enhanced dance curriculum featuring Yingge dance modules, and the control group in standard dance modules. Study used the analysis, including t-tests and descriptive statistics, to evaluate significant variations in the artistic abilities and cultural understanding of the students. The analysis identified recurring themes related to students’ cultural understanding and artistic appreciation. The study’s findings show the Yingge dance can significantly (p < 0.05) enhance students’ cultural knowledge and enjoyment of art when it is incorporated into the educational program. Overall, the study demonstrates that adding traditional dance styles to vocational education can help students’ awareness of culture and the arts.