Kazakh heritage flies high on wings of eagle dance

URUMQI — Though in his late 50s, Jeneshan Salapi, an ethnic Kazakh herdsman, moves with the fluid grace of youth when performing the ethnic group's traditional eagle dance.

"The eagle's head pivots six ways, a gift no other bird has," he says, arching his neck and sweeping his arms like wings, embodying the raptor's hunt. He hails from Aksu township in Urumqi, capital of Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, nestled beneath the snowcapped Bogda Peak of the Tianshan Mountains.

As the fourth-generation inheritor of the art, now recognized as an intangible cultural heritage in the region, Jeneshan Salapi began training with his father at the age of 5.

After years of practice, he mastered the dance's hypnotic movements. His eagle costume — a 20-kg masterpiece — is stitched from black goatskin and built with springs and pulleys. The neck bends like a joint, and the beak is carved from cattle horn.

When the music swells, Jeneshan Salapi transforms. Head thrusts, spiraling twists and sweeping dives bring the eagle's spirit to life. In the climactic "falcon hunts fox "sequence, every gesture captures centuries of nomadic resilience, tenacity, struggle and triumph.

"True eagle dancing flows from understanding falconry's soul," he explains. "Every flick of the wing and every turn of the head hold meanings known only to those raised with eagles." This dance is an artistic hymn to falconry, once vital to the survival of ethnic Kazakh people on the steppes where horses and eagles hunted side by side.

Jeneshan Salapi's bond with this tradition runs deep. From boyhood, he studied eagles' instincts, blending careful observation with ancestral wisdom into his art. "Eagles are family members to us rather than tools," he says. "Falconry is culture. Knowing we must release them back to the wild makes every moment sacred. That bond inspired this dance."

According to Jeneshan Salapi, his ancestors performed the dance at festive occasions such as weddings. Today, the folk dance thrives onstage as a carefully preserved heritage. At Aksu's Eagle Dance Square — a cultural hub rich with traditional motifs — visitors can experience its power firsthand.

"This dance is my ancestors' legacy. Passing it down is my duty," he says. Today, his eldest son is also learning the art from him.

Cultural preservation policies rolled out by the local government have amplified his mission. In addition to establishing the public square dedicated to the traditional dance, local authorities grant him an annual stipend of around 4,800 yuan ($668.3) as a representative inheritor of the region. He also teaches at local schools.

Thanks to short videos sweeping social media, Jeneshan Salapi's name has spread throughout Urumqi. He also appeared on a popular Chinese variety show, where he taught celebrity guests the dance. Bringing this time-honored ethnic art to wider audiences has earned him acclaim across Xinjiang and beyond.

Home to multiple ethnic groups, Xinjiang has safeguarded over 9,000 intangible heritage items — ranging from national to county level. It supports more than 10,000 inheritors, creating a vibrant mosaic of living traditions.

The eagle dance has also brought tangible economic gains to Jeneshan Salapi, whose mode of transportation has evolved — from horse to motorcycle and now, family cars.

In recent years, a township camel cooperative has helped boost his income, with more than 40 camels generating over 200,000 yuan annually from milk sales.

"While young people today have embraced modern lives far from their nomadic roots, their growing passion for the eagle dance ensures this heritage not only survives but echoes well beyond the mountains," he says.