Lion and cat dance - a unique cultural feature of the Tay and Nung people in Dak Lak

Although they left their hometown Lang Son to settle down in Ea Drong commune more than 30 years ago, the Tay and Nung people here still preserve and promote the traditional culture of lion and cat dance - a special dance that not every place or ethnic group has.

Every Hang Po Festival or other local holidays, Tet, and important days, the streets and public areas are bustling with groups of people dancing lion and cat dances with the sound of gongs and drums. With unique props and objects such as: panther face, monkey face (also known as monkey face), gongs, cymbals, tridents, sticks, short knives, swords..., the dance has stirred up the entire community, attracting a lot of attention and followers.

Mr. Nong Van Pong (village 1A) - a person considered a "veteran" in dancing and knowledgeable shared: "The lion and cat dance is a comprehensive performance form, in which dance is the main one but is not separate from music and performances. Depending on the space, location, purpose, and requirements, the lion and cat dance has many dances to suit each activity and context such as: dance to greet the gods, worship ancestors, pray for luck, dance at the long tong festival, somersault through the fire ring... This is a unique folk art form that the Tay and Nung people have passed down through many generations, no matter how long it has been or where they have moved."

The lion and cat dance team of village 1A participated in the competition at the Hang Po Festival.

In addition to the martial spirit of the mountain people, the strong and healthy dances of the lion dance also express the aspirations of the Tay and Nung people for a better and more prosperous life. According to the people's concept, the lion symbolizes prosperity and success; Wherever the lion goes, it brings happiness, abundance and joy. Therefore, leaving their hometown Lang Son to Dak Lak to make a living for decades, no matter how difficult and arduous life is, but at the beginning of the new year or when preparing for the Hang Po Festival, the young and old, big and small, gather to practice and organize into teams to go along the streets, into each house to dance with the concept that the lion's arrival will drive away evil spirits, diseases eliminate, and welcome a new year of prosperity and prosperity.

With the desire to preserve and promote the unique cultural values of the nation, over the years, the elderly Tay and Nung people in Ea Drong commune have quietly taught the lion dance to the younger generation. Mr. Hua Van Hong (village 3) has taught the dance not only to his children but also to the boys in the neighborhood. According to him, teaching in the community will contribute to preserving and transmitting the traditional dance of the Tay and Nung people; up to now, the number of people he has taught the lion dance to is hard to count.

The lion dance team of village 3 participated in the local Hang Po Festival.

Phan Cong Hieu is one of many young people in Ea Drong who knows how to dance lion cats. Since the age of 12, every time he was off school, he was taught by his father and the uncles and grandfathers in the lion cat dance team of village 1A. For him, learning lion cat dance not only helps him stay healthy but also trains his confidence and contributes to preserving the culture of the nation. Up to now, he has studied for 4 years and has mastered some dances. Most of the lion cat dances have martial arts movements that are both fast and graceful, moving to the rhythm of drums, gongs, and cymbals. A dance only lasts a few minutes, but requires the performer to have skillful techniques.

Mr. Nong Van Dung, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Society of Ea Drong commune, said: “The lion and cat dance has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage since 2017. Currently, the commune has established 3 lion and cat dance teams in 3 villages (1A, 1B, 3), each team has about 40 members. In addition, in other villages, although teams have not been established, there are many people who know how to dance, most of them teach each other.”

It can be said that, along with the unique identities and cultures of the ethnic groups living and being preserved in Dak Lak province, the lion and cat dance culture of the Tay and Nung people have added to the colorful cultural garden that our ancestors have worked hard to cultivate and preserve. It is even more precious when this heritage is preserved by the whole community and increasingly spreads, affirming its everlasting vitality over time.

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/van-hoa-du-lich-van-hoc-nghe-thuat/202507/mua-su-tu-meo-net-van-hoa-doc-dao-cua-nguoi-tay-nung-o-dak-lak-09f10c9/