Artisan contributes to keeping treasure of Tay ethnic people

Culture

Artisan contributes to keeping treasure of Tay ethnic people

Thursday, February 23, 2023

YBO - Having recognised that customs and practices, as well as folk songs and dances of the Tay ethnic minority people, are fading away, artisan Ha Thi Thanh Tinh, who resides in Kien Lao village, Kien Thanh commune, Tran Yen district, Yen Bai province, has established a traditional art club in the locality with the support of some elderly persons.

Tay ethnic people in Kien Thanh commune perform ancient Dam thuong dance in Cau Mua festival 2023.

Since 1982, she has been taught by local artisans to perform the ancient "Dam thuong" dances of the Tay ethnic group. She has also memorised ancient "Then" lyrics.

It was not until 1995 that Tinh began to teach "Then" dances and songs to people who share the passion. In 2014, she set up another ethnic art club with 15 members who will meet once a week to exchange, learn and practice together. Four years later, a "Then" singing class was formed with 17 members.

Besides preserving and teaching "Dam thuong" dance and "Then" singing, she has also worked with local authorities to revive traditional festivals associated with the daily life and production of the ethnic people in the locality.

In 2007, Tinh collaborated with authorities of Kien Thanh commune to gather information relating to the Cau Mua Festival (also known as the Long Tong Festival), a festival to pray for a bumper harvest of the Tay ethnic group in Kien Thanh commune, which had been lost in oblivion since 1957.

The festival was successfully restored in 2009, including ancient "Then" dances. The Cau Mua Festival of the Tay people in Kien Thanh has become an annual festival at the beginning of the new year in Tran Yen district, attracting thousands of local people and tourists.

Tinh said she always worries that traditional customs and cultural values will disappear. However, she believed that the traditional cultural values will continue to be handed down to the young generations and be promoted through the teaching of artisans at festivals and clubs./.

Hung Cuong

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