THE AESTHETIC CHARACTERISTICS OF UYGHUR SAINEM DANCE MOVEMENT

Abstract

This article aims to study the aesthetic characteristics and deep cultural connotations of Uyghur Sainem dance movements. The scope of the study includes the historical and religious background of the Uyghur people, folk customs, and the movement vocabulary of Sainem dance. The informants include inheritor Zhao Xiaoguang and 12 dance students who have studied Sainem dance under his instruction. Through in-depth interviews, video observation, and movement analysis, this study investigates the aesthetic principles and cultural meanings embedded in Sainem dance. The findings reveal that Sainem dance movements embody distinctive aesthetic principles including “curvilinear beauty,” “dynamic balance,” “expression through eyes and eyebrows,” and “knee tremble rhythm,” while the movement vocabulary carries profound cultural narratives related to oasis agricultural life, Islamic and Buddhist influences, and Uyghur social customs. The study contributes to intangible cultural heritage preservation, enhances cultural confidence among the Uyghur community, and promotes cross-cultural exchange through Silk Road cultural representation.

Keywords: Sainem Dance, Aesthetic Movements, Uyghur Culture, Dance Aesthetics