With the help of Zhang Jigang, Madame Dai and Kefen Wang, my research trips to China became quite fruitful. My first goal was to videotape folk dance, both Han and Minority. I sought the latter in small villages that were just starting to feel the impact of government development projects.
Naxi Dance Notation 納西舞譜, Dongba Palace 東巴宮
In Yunnan Province, where a museum was being built to preserve the Naxi culture, I had the privilege of meeting the oldest Dongba Master who could read the ancient pictographs, the most revered elder in the Naxi religion. At the time I met him in 2001 he was over 90 years old and was still performing the dance. He showed me the notation of the Dongba creation story, a special treasure of the Naxi people. I felt his presence to be true to his culture and his religion in every part of his being; whether performing the rites or simply talking with me, he joyfully embodied the tenets of his people.
