Unique dances of H’mong ethnic minority people in Yen Bai

Culture

Unique dances of H’mong ethnic minority people in Yen Bai

Thursday, March 26, 2020

YBO - Yen Bai is home to about 82,000 people, with the H’mong ethnic minorities forming the fourth largest population in the province, including four groups namely Mong Hoa, Mong Den, Mong Trang and Mong Do. They live mostly in Van Chan, Tram Tau and Mu Cang Chai districts.

Visiting H’mong villages in Yen Bai today, we do not only see a facelift in their daily life but also the richness and originality of their culture, especially traditional beliefs, festivals and dances.

The H’mong ethnic minority communities possess a treasury of strong and vibrant folk dances reflecting the heart and soul of mountainous tribes. Most popular among their traditional dances are "khen” dance (called "tha kenh” in H’mong language) and "senh tien” dance.

For a long time, "khen” panpipe, a traditional musical instrument that an H’mong man cannot live without. He brings it to any places - the field, a market or a village festival, and uses it to reveal what is in his heart and show off his moves in "tha kenh” dance.

Khen dance performances are always fun to help people forget a busy and hardworking day as well as hardship in life and present love and friendship.

If khen dance showcases the gentility and strength of a tribal man, "senh tien” dance is for everybody, making all people get closer to each other.

"Senh tien” dance, also known as "gay tien,” is performed by a pair or 4 – 8 boys and girls with a musical instrument called "senh tien” stick which combines clapper, rasp and jingle made from three pieces of bamboo and old coins.

While dancing, "dancers" swing the stick and touch it on their legs, shoulders or arms to make the coins ring. The dance is a harmonious mixture of dancing moves and the uniqueness of the "senh tien” stick that is only seen in H’mong culture.

Thanh Tuu

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