Nhan Cao village, also known as Ngoi village, lies quietly by the gentle Ma river, and is the birthplace of unique folk performing arts: lantern dancing and ancient Cheo singing.
This art is not only a local cultural highlight but also a spiritual and religious connection with the riverside agricultural community for centuries.
The spirit of the Ngu Vong Phuong festival and the light from the headlamp
Every year, from the 8th to the 12th of January, the Ngu Vong Phuong festival is solemnly held by the people of Nhan Cao village with activities such as sacrificial ceremonies, boat processions, human chess, lion dances... But the highlight of the festival is the performance of the art of dancing with running letters and singing traditional Cheo Chai.
No one remembers exactly when this art began. We only know that, through many generations, from mothers, grandmothers, and sisters, this spiritual light has been passed down from hand to hand to preserve.
Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy, a member of the lantern dance team, shared: “Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated by the light from the lantern disc on my head and the rhythmic steps to the sound of drums and instruments in the village festival.
Later, I was taught each dance by my mother-in-law, Mrs. Nguyen Thi Chua, the captain of the dance team. She won the Gold Medal at the National Mass Arts Festival Region III in 1979 organized by the Ministry of Culture and Information (now the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism).
The unique feature of the art of running-letter lantern dance lies in the smooth coordination between cheo chai singing and dance movements, forming a complete ensemble.
The four songs in Cheo Chai include: Hat Giao Chai, Hat Vu Quat, Hat Cheo Thuyen and Hat Giao Chan Sao. The main content praises the merits of Duc Thanh Ca and the village's tutelary gods, expressing the people's aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous life.
Each lantern dance team has 12 girls, wearing white blouses, long black skirts, pink scarves tied around their waists, round hair buns and red scarves. When the music plays:
Respectfully present to the country / Listen quietly / We teach the lamp...
...the girls will put the lantern discs on their heads, walk rhythmically to the music, and arrange the letters into the shapes "first, second, third, fourth, fifth".
Notably, the performance ended with the image of the girls rolling on stage to form a five-petal flower, symbolizing respect for their ancestors.
Then the whole team turned to the altar, bowed in gratitude and left the stage to the emotion of the audience.
"Amateur artists" keep the passion burning and spread the essence
“The lights cannot be turned off, the steps cannot be wrong, the shapes cannot be off. Remember the position, remember the music, remember the dance, if one person makes a mistake, the whole team fails,” Ms. Thuy said about the pressure when performing the lantern dance.
Therefore, each practice session and each rehearsal is not only training but also a journey to preserve memories of the village.
Not only in village festivals, Nhan Cao lantern dance team has also represented the district and province many times to participate in cultural festivals and achieved high results.
Notable achievements include: Second Prize at the 14th Thanh Hoa Ethnic Culture Festival in 2012; A Prize at the 18th Thanh Hoa Province Ethnic Culture Festival;...
In March 2023, the pride of Ngoi village was once again multiplied when the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recognized the folk performing art of “Dancing with running letters, singing Cheo and combing ancient songs” as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. This is not only a recognition of artistic value but also a commitment to preserve a part of the cultural soul of Thanh land.
The uniqueness of the art of lantern dancing lies in the performers themselves, the farmers and simple workers who still continuously practice and teach the art to the next generation.
Although modern life is gradually fading many traditional values, the people of Thieu Quang still firmly believe that as long as there is a lover, the lantern dance will never go out.
The lantern dance is a combination of spirituality, belief and folk performing arts, a living testament to the enduring Vietnamese cultural identity.
It is the light that never fades in the communal house yard, the song that never fades in the souls of the people of Ngoi village, the source of cultural strength that nurtures generations of Vietnamese people to turn to their roots and aspire to live well, in harmony with nature and the community.
Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/thanh-am-co-truyen-giua-long-song-ma-148004.html
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