五毒 (The Five Poisons) | Spring Concert 2023

Composed by N2V
Arranged by Emily Huang

In Chinese mythology, poison can only be conquered by poison itself, calling forth heat to burn away treacherous evils. The Five Poisons dance is rooted in the Wu Dú religion of the Miao region and the southwest mountainous Dao tribe, one of the 56 ethnic minority tribes recognized by the Chinese government but now fading against the dominant backdrop of Han China. The Five Poisons music and choreography pay tribute to these dying cultures. It combines novel and traditional music, dance, and martial arts from the Dao, Maori, and Wulin electronica practices to express a passionate revival in modern appreciation for a lost history.