Drama and dance in Yao Long Drum Dance: embodied learning and performance pedagogy for intangible cultural heritage

This ‘Forum’ piece examines the pedagogical potential of integrating dance and drama in the transmission of intangible cultural heritage (ICH), focusing on the Yao Long Drum Dance from southern Hunan, China. Drawing on fieldwork experience and practice-based learning with local practitioners, the study explores how embodied participation, rhythmic coordination, spatial formations, and narrative expression are intertwined in this performance tradition. The author reflects on the process of translating field-based embodied knowledge into classroom pedagogy, emphasizing strategies such as guided improvisation, narrative exploration, and reflective practice. Through these approaches, students are encouraged to engage with both the performative and dramatic dimensions of the dance, fostering cultural literacy, creative agency, and embodied understanding. The piece further discusses the broader applicability of this pedagogical framework to other ICH practices and highlights emerging interdisciplinary approaches, including the integration of digital technologies in dance education. By bridging traditional performance practices with contemporary educational contexts, this study contributes to ongoing discussions on sustainable and innovative models for ICH transmission.