Heritage "lit up" in the middle of nightlife

When bars and pubs become stages for traditional plays and reformed opera, it is both a spectacular innovation and a creative bridge that brings heritage closer to the younger generation...

However, for old values to truly survive in the new era, innovation needs to go all the way, not just on the surface, but reaching deep.

Heritage

Performing hát bội in a modern space at Dot Bar

Tuong, Hat Boi... go to bar

Once associated with mossy communal house roofs, theater stages or bustling village festivals with drums, gongs, and hát bội - seemingly relegated to the past, now suddenly "changes the wind" when appearing in the middle of a vibrant bar space. A completely new transformation, opening the way for traditional art to blend with modern breath.

At Dot Bar (HCMC), hát bội is performed regularly. The space is designed with a modern folk feel, using traditional props such as embroidered bamboo sticks, drums, trumpets, etc. combined with lighting and folk music to recreate a miniature traditional stage, both strange and familiar.

The two plays San Hau and On Dinh chop Ta were performed in a shortened version, combining bilingual narration and dance demonstration, making it easier for the audience, especially young people and international tourists. In the middle of the night bar space, with the sound of clinking glasses and dim lights, the audience was surprised to witness the image of On Dinh swinging his sword and San Hau wearing a dragon robe.

Mr. Le Ngoc Minh (co-founder of Dot Bar) said that the idea of bringing hát bội into the bar space came from reality: Many young people today have never been exposed to this art form, partly because it feels unfamiliar, partly because of the lack of a suitable experience environment.

From there, Dot Bar proactively came up with ideas, connected and collaborated with artists from the Ho Chi Minh City Hat Boi Art Theater and the non-profit cultural organization Hieu Van Ngu to create a series of performances.

“Currently, Dot Bar has organized 3 Hat Boi performances. It is expected that in the near future, the bar will maintain the frequency of 2 months/time and continue to bring many other traditional art forms into the bar space,” Mr. Le Ngoc Minh shared.

In Hanoi , the capital's audience also had the opportunity to experience the art of Tuong through the program Ai Long Dia #3 : Tuong meets techno, taking place at ENTROPY Cocktail Club. With the goal of bringing traditional art out of the theater space to get closer to the young audience, the project is a collaboration between the creative team of ENTROPY Cocktail Club and the Vietnam Tuong Theater.

Under the direction of Meritorious Artist Tran Van Long, two classic excerpts from the play On Dinh chop Ta are renewed through experimental theater, where traditional Tuong performance techniques are combined with techno music, contemporary choreography and lighting effects inspired by folk art.

Many people worry that bringing traditional art into the nightlife environment will dilute the value of heritage, but "Ai Long Dia" has proven that: Traditional art can blend into the lives of young people. Ms. Tran Thi My Nhat (Marketing Manager of ENTROPY Cocktail Club) expressed: "Nightlife music always needs climaxes that make the audience explode with emotions. Interestingly, Tuong also has very unique magical and dramatic knots. When placed in the right place, those climaxes are in perfect harmony with the atmosphere of an electronic music night".

The experiments at Dot Bar or ENTROPY Cocktail Club not only stop at the interesting combination of tradition and modernity, but also show that night entertainment spaces can become stages for traditional art and are readily accepted by young people.

Heritage

An excerpt from the play performed at ENTROPY Cocktail Club

Refresh without losing identity

Bringing traditional art into modern entertainment spaces helps old values blend into contemporary life. However, this renewal process must be based on a correct understanding and respect for the nature of traditional art forms, avoiding distorted variations or fading of the core spirit.

Bringing traditional art into modern entertainment spaces is not just about innovating the form, but also requires a real “handshake” between those who are preserving traditional art and young creators. Theaters need to proactively share materials, techniques, and expertise.

On the contrary, young people must also approach with a spirit of learning, understanding that art forms have their own structure and values. Collaborative models such as ENTROPY Cocktail Club and the Vietnam Tuong Theater, or Dot Bar and the Ho Chi Minh City Hat Boi Art Theater are evidence of seriously renewing traditional art. The participation of veteran artists is a factor that guarantees technique and quality.

The creative team also needs to equip themselves with a deep enough artistic mindset to understand: It's not just about bringing traditional art into a bar, mixing it electronically, and adding contemporary choreography to create a breakthrough.

Ms. Khanh Linh (co-founder of ENTROPY Cocktail Club) said: “To harmonize traditional and modern elements, the first thing is to respect the core structure of the original art. We do not remix tuong by replacing drums with electronic beats, but keep the original rhythm system and singing style, then place it in a modern electronic sound space, so that listeners can feel the weight of each drum beat, each footstep, not an easy mix. Traditional art, if only performed on the stage of a theater, is easily considered strange by young people. We do not try to attract audiences to tuong, but bring tuong closer to today's life."

For traditional art to truly “live” in modern life, persistent efforts are needed to convey ancient values in the language of today - on flexible stages, while still preserving the spirit and identity of the heritage.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/di-san-len-den-giua-nightlife-154356.html