At an NBA arena in US, Chinese drum performance steals the show

The eyes of hundreds of basketball fans awaiting the start of an NBA game in the United States were suddenly yanked away from their cellphones when some 30 Chinese women on the floor — all dressed in traditional flowing skirts — began a pulsating drum performance.

Many spectators were scrolling or chatting, but the thundering rhythms, accompanied by the deep, resonant sound of horns, grabbed their attention. The performance left the crowd in awe, said Dong Wenzhu, the group's leader.

"We heard people saying, 'You're amazing! We didn't know drums could sound like that!' " Dong said. "They were shocked by how these seemingly delicate women could create such powerful sounds."

After the spectacular performance, which unfolded at the Moda Center in Portland, Oregon, people were eager to tap their fingers on the handmade drumheads and feel the texture. They examined their intricate designs and surface patterns.

All the drums came from Henan province in Central China, where Dong grew up. The ones featured in the performance were produced in Matun village, in the town of Goushi in Luoyang, which is known as a drum production base.

Guo Yanqi contributed to this story.

A drum team performed in a celebration event in Yanshi, Henan province, in February 2024. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]