Stilt dance, a form of folk dance, has a long history and great influence. It can be dated back to the Warring States period (403-221 BC).

The Litai stilt dance team was set up in the early 20th century in the Shaxi town with the emergence of their modern industry. At that time, Duan Zhengfu, Chen Zhiming and Xia Jinyuan were workers of the Jitai Cotton Mill (predecessor of Litai Cotton Mill). They could not stand the backbreaking work at the mill and went to Tianjin to seek employment. When in Tianjin, they learnt to walk on stilts. In 1923, they returned to Taicang for a temple fair and organized for workers of the Jitai Cotton Mill to learn the stilt dance to perform it at the fair. Temple fairs during this time would be held in Taicang whenever there was a bumper harvest. Later, the stilt dance performed by the Jitai’s workers became a regular program of the fair. Shopkeepers would set off firecrackers to welcome the stilt dance team as they passed by.

Litai Stilt Dance Team in the 20th Century

The Litai stilt dance team has been passed down for four generations since its establishment in the early 20th century. It remained active for a long period and continued to attend celebrations and promotional activities after the founding of the PRC in 1949. Since the 1980s, the team has participated in a series of major activities, including Jiangsu Folk Art Performances held in Changzhou city; Suzhou Folk Art Performances held in Suzhou Worker’s Cultural Palace; the 1st Silk Festival held in Songling town of Wujiang city; the first two sessions of “Taicang Loudong Spring”; and the first two sessions of “Shaxi Loudong Spring”. It has won many prizes and has had a lasting positive cultural impact.