Thang Long – Hanoi is the place where not only boasts generous historical values, but also hides unique cultural values, where gathers the cream of regions across the country. Along with the other artistic values, the traditional songs and dances have become a culture feature that has manner and sprit of people in the land of capital city.
Go through many events, ups and downs, this form of folk cultural activity is still maintained and preserved today. Recently, on the great event of the 1000th year of Thang Long - Hanoi, it had been introduced to people at home and abroad with deep love and pride of the nation. The performance program of Traditional Dance of Thang Long – Hanoi, a landmark in the 10-day celebration, had been elaborately and imposingly arranged. Dances were staged become great scenes in the streets and stadiums. It is a chance for Vietnamese descendants directing towards to the roots, contributing to maintain and hand down the fund of precious culture of the nation.
According to the statistics, there are more than 100 traditional dances exist scattered throughout the villages and suburbs in Hanoi, including three forms of folk dance, royal dance and religious dance. The traditional dances developed in the court, religious rituals and village festivals... After the King Ly Thai To moved the capital to Thang Long, the traditional dances continued to be used in community activities, and the major festivals in the imperial city. So far, the exact appearing time of the dances have not been determined by any historical documents, yet they can be determined that have existed for hundreds of years through the form of handing down in the folklore and spiritual activities. The hallmark of this art performance presence in the patterns and designs sculptured on bronze drums, in the ancient bibliographies and even in the folk music of the nation.
The traditional dance is the crystallization of many cultures, sometimes it is a mix of traditional art performances, sometimes is a combination of popular dances and noble ones. The content of the traditional dance is also very rich. The traditional dances often contain contents of praising and celebrating peaceful life of the whole people. Royal dance with the high rank symbols of dragon- unicorn-tortoise-phoenix, in the sense that wish peace, prosperity and drive away evil spirits. Meanwhile religious dance has lofty and beautiful human culture, pray for the peace of the lost's souls...
Nowadays, in the modern society, the traditional dances more or less have been absent, however, the very oldest dances have been still kept in some places in Hanoi, being performed in traditional festivals such as Dragon Dance, Trong Bong Dance, Flag Dance in Trieu Khuc; Lighting Dance in Hai Ba Trung Temple Festival in Dong Nhan; Snake Dance in Le Mat; Fire Dragon Dance in Khuong Thuong; Yem Mo Removing Dance in Duong Yen; Cup Dance in Moc Village; Rod Dance in the Cot Village... The traditional dances of Thang Long - Hanoi has become the cream of culture of the nation, showing features of the Red River civilization which should be retained and developed in the modern life.
Some special traditional dances
Dragon Dance: In the spiritual beliefs of Vietnamese, Dragon has become the mascot of the people, associated with the mind inner feeling of “children of the Fairy and the Dragon." The Dragon is also a common symbol with residents of the wet rice civilization in the East Asia region and shows the authority of both the nature as well as in the society. Dragon Dance is not only to pray for good weather, for the prosperity of nation and the happiness of citizens, but also include educational content of chivalry, tradition of “be grateful to one’s benefactorâ€, pray for prosperity and thriving.
There are two forms of the Dragon Dance, including single dance and pairs dance. Dragon dancers use straight handle to control the dragon fly, jump, and upside down... creating the performances with some themes. Dancer dresses are simple, neat, tidy and always require combined colors. Dragon dance with more actions so can lively transform into many positions such as greeting dragon, kneeling dragon, flanking dragon, flying dragon, rolling dragon, soaring dragon, winding dragon, chasing pearls dragon, holding pearl in mouth dragon... Together with the resounding and jubilant sound, lively tempo, and the flexibility of trong cai (big drums), cymbal, horn, the Dragon Dance always attracts many audiences.
The Dragon Dance symbolizing the spirit power of the ancient Thang Long has been performed to arouse the pride of strength against the enemy of the nation.
Trong Bong Dance, also known with the folk name as “Con di danh bongâ€, was one of the ten invaluable ancient dances of Hanoi. Legend has it that before attacking Tong Binh Citadel, Bo Cai Dai Vuong Phung Hung and his troops set up camp in Trieu Khuc Village (Thanh Tri District), the local people danced Bong to keep the troops’ spirits high. Over the years, the dance was popularized in the surrounding areas and it is always performed at the ceremonies, cultural activities in the community and the village festivals in spring.
There are often four men dancing Trong Bong in pair and it is performed during the nhap tich ceremony in the early morning of the 9th day of the first lunar month, when the dai flag (the big traditional festival flag) was hoisted in front of the communal house. Instruments used for the dance including cymbals, drums and gongs. While dancing, two pairs of dancers must reflect attitude of both liberal and decisive, strong and soft; broadly gesticulated arms, high lifted legs, wide steps, slightly sashayed figure, with their body movements so charming and pliant.
Trong Bong Dance in each local has different styles with the traditional culture and characteristics of each village and land... Trong Bong Dance in Trieu Khuc Village is the funny, mischievous picture of the men disguised as women in the costumes of a long, white silk dress, pink brassieres embroidered with glittering beads and five-coloured fringes, a red turban tired in a triangle on the forehead, a pink silk waist band, a black skirt, white trousers and with liberal and strong movements. Meanwhile the Trong Bong Dance in Nhat Tan Flower Village, the girls with deliberate, grace and willowy movements together the rhythm of hands clapping drum, flexibility in changing the formation, bring the viewers to bustling and joyful atmosphere in spring...
Chay Co Dance (Flag Dance)is also one of the unique ancient dances from Trieu Khuc Village (Thanh Tri District), originated since Phung Hung - the village notable of Duong Lam uprose against the Tang invaders in 791 AD. The dance is performed in village festivities where amateur artists holding flags, dancing and running in the boisterous sound of drums and castanets. It displays the power of solidarity in the fights against enemies.
Thien Long Bat Bo Dance having movements are combined folk dances with martial arts showing power and extraordinary strength of the 8 colossal guardians in the Buddhism: Thien - Long – Da Xo – Kien That Ba - A Lu La - Ca Cau La - Khan Na La - Ma Hau La Gia. These are the genii who have powerful protected the Buddhist dharma, expel evil spirits and combat against the great disaster to safe the peace and happy for souls of the dead throughout the ten directions. The dance can include 4, 6 or 8 people.
Thien Long Bat Bo Dance is diverse in gestures, from simple tricks of traditional martial arts to lissom movements as go into a trance, or sinewy movements of Tuong (Classical drama) art. Depending on the level of the dance, the performers show different tricks of martial arts.
This dance is performed in Buddhist festivals, the inauguration ceremonies of the pagoda, requiems, praying for the prosperity of nation and the happiness of citizens.
Luc Cung Dance is an ancient dance of Buddhism spread to Vietnam by Indian monks. This dance includes six times (Luc) of offering (Cung). Corresponding to six times are six items, including incense, flowers, fruit, lanterns, tea and music, that are offered to Buddha. Therefore the performed environment of this dance is always in special occasions such as Buddhist seated ceremonies, lac thanh ceremonies or festivals. In addition, it is also performed in the Buddha's birthday, Vu Lan festival, the inauguration ceremonies of the pagoda, in the invoking spirits for statue ceremonies.
This dance is also reflected the sense of praying for the martyrs, ancestors and souls departed from this life to reach a serene and pure land... in the altar where ceremonies of bringing relief to the needy and clearing accusation are made... Luc Cung Dance brings many shaping factors. All dancers hold lotus flower lights in two hands, creating beautiful and attractive shapes.
Bai Bong Dance, which originated in Phu Nhieu Village (Quang Trung Commune, Phu Xuyen District, Hanoi) is also known as “bat bai bongâ€. Bai Bong Dance is in the system of dances of ca tru art, often used in the grand occasions of the Ca tru guilds or at the communal house when singing worship for festivals with rituals. Bai Bong Dance is transmitted orally from generation to generation, becoming an integral part of folk performances art of Phu Nhieu Village. Contents of Bai Bong sing and dance are praising the country, reflecting the working life of farmers, the couple love... The tone is a combination of folk songs, and dances include folk and royal dances.
Le Chu Dance in the Chu Xa Village, Van Duc Commune, Gia Lam District has rituals of the agricultural population, desire a peaceful, loving, comfort, prosperous and thriving life. The dance is performed by 22 village boys. The dancers arrange into the word of "Thien ha thai binh (peaceful people)" (in Chinese), each letter is danced twice.
Giao Long Dance of Le Mat Village (Viet Hung, Long Bien) associated with the legend of the tutelary god of village. That was a young man of Hoang family, who as a hero killed aquatic monster saving the princess. He had refused to hold high position, only asked the King for reclaiming and seting up 13 populous and rich farm houses that were famous all over the Thang Long Citadel... Giao Long Dance is the image of a hero, also the struggle between human and evil forces, the fight between good and evil. In a potpourri of Giao Long Dance, aside from dignify the brave of human before natural disasters; also praise the spirit of loving life and work of the ancient Hanoi people...
Phuong Anh - Pham Phuong