Taigu Jiaohuolong
The dragon twisting is a representative traditional sports event in Taigu folk fire activities. It is very popular among the masses and is mainly spread in Taigu County, Shanxi Province. The activity time is generally from the evening of the 30th night of the twelfth lunar month to the second day of the second lunar month, when the dragon raises its head. It is usually performed at night. The dragon twisting scene is grand, the technique is complex, the arrangement is orderly, and it is very lively. In the sound of bright music, there are both small dragons playing with beads in the air and old dragons rolling and dancing on the ground. The old dragons and small dragons sometimes shake their heads and tails to tease the beads, and sometimes tumble up and down, making various movements such as "going up to the sky and into the sea". Finally, the two dragons both sprayed fireworks from their mouths, and at the same time, the "pot fire" was released on the ground, the flames soared into the sky, and the colorful lights shot out in unison. With the help of gongs and drums, the dragon twisting performance reached a climax. Different from ordinary dragon dances, the dragon twisting technique is strict, dynamic, and very ornamental. It takes dozens of people to practice for a long time to operate the dragon jugglers, so that they can cooperate tacitly and coordinate their movements, so that the long dragon in the air and the old dragon on the ground can interweave rhythmically and spin upwards, achieving a vivid performance effect. Nowadays, Taigu's dragon-twisting has made rapid reforms and innovations in technology and equipment. The windlass has been changed from human-driven to electronically controlled, colorful neon lights have replaced the candles in the dragon's body and head, hemp ropes have been replaced by steel cables, and the dragon's mouth can spray water and fire, making this activity more exciting and moving. Every year on the night of the Lantern Festival, the lights are brilliant, the gongs and drums are loud, and the scene of dragon-twisting is spectacular, making people linger. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)