Dao Cultural Heritage on Stage: From Art to Sustainable Tourism

With the aim of preserving, transmitting and promoting the cultural values of the Dao people, through performing arts combining modern technology such as lighting, stage arrangements, 3D mapping, but still respecting the original culture... the live performance "Thien", taking place at San Quan (Sa Pa, Lao Cai ), has become a special event, not only because of its scale and modern performance technology, but also because of its profound message about culture, beliefs and national identity.

Symphony of earth, sky and human

Inspired by the Red Dao cultural treasure in Sa Pa, “Thieng” is a large-scale song-dance-music-visual performance, built on the foundation of traditional rituals, folk performances and indigenous dances.

The work depicts the journey of the Dao people to their roots, where faith and nature become one, where people converse with heaven and earth using the language of faith.

This is an art project carried out by Hexogon Vietnam Company, in coordination with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province, Lao Cai Tourism Association, Sa Pa Ward People's Committee, along with a team of artists and about 80 Dao ethnic people in Sapa.

In the heart of the Quan Courtyard (Sa Pa), the play “Thien” unfolds like a symphony of earth, sky and people. The sound of drums, horns, water mixed with the silent Pao Dung, the sacred sound of prayers... creates a space full of spirituality, where people converse with the earth and sky.

On stage, the artisans and Red Dao people, along with a team of professional actors, through folk songs, folk music, folk dances, costumes, rituals... recreated the beauty of nature associated with the cultural life of the Dao people: From the warm brown color of the earth in the scene "Finding land, establishing a village," the faint blue color in "Praying for rain," the bright red fire in "Sacred kitchen" and the pure white light when 12 lamps lit up in the mist of Sa Pa.

Worship paintings, symbolic red patches, indigenous lines are enhanced by light... all like the breath of the mountains and forests transformed into art, leading viewers through a spiritual journey: Earth - Water - Fire - Love - Sacred and Connected - the journey of the Dao people to regain faith in the Dao ancestor and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

One of the greatest successes of “Thieng” is the way of making art based on the spirit of “co-creation with the community”. With more than 80% of the participants being artisans and Red Dao people in Sa Pa, every dance step, every song, every ritual comes from their own cultural life.

Mr. Ha Van Thang, former Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai, the scriptwriter shared that he did not simply recreate, but let the Dao people tell their story. When they sing Pao Dung, perform the Cap Sac ritual or practice their cultural features on stage, they are living in the culture, not "acting" it...

For director Dang Xuan Truong, “Thien” is not just a show, it is a journey to live with Dao culture, where light, sound and people together speak out a sacred voice about the origin, about the values preserved through many generations.

Director Dang Xuan Truong shared, “Thien” is a dialogue between light and faith, all elements of light, smoke, music, movement… are designed as symbols, dialogue with the audience.

The combination of contemporary theatrical language and traditional rituals creates for “Thien” a rare performance space: where 3D mapping technology, smoke effects, lasers, and lighting combine harmoniously with the dances, costumes, lyrics, and consciousness of the Red Dao people.

On the special space of San Quan - where the architecture of the stone church and the mountains and forests of Sa Pa harmonize - director Dang Xuan Truong has turned the stage into a giant painting of light, when the light swirls in the white smoke, the image of a dragon appears, spraying water to make rain; when the altar burns in the middle of the stage; when the sound of the horn echoes from deep in the night... the whole space seems to be immersed in a sacred ritual, as if attending the community's own initiation ceremony.

“Thien” thus becomes a vivid testament to the harmonious blend between spirituality and technology, heritage and creativity, past and present.

From art to sustainable tourism

One of the most unique and important religious rituals of the Dao Dau Bang people is the Tu Cai Ceremony, also known as the Cap Sac ceremony, which marks the maturity of men. (Photo: VNA)

For the people of Sa Pa and tourists, the story of an art show born from the hearts of the people, about themselves… has left a deep impression.

Artist Thu Ha, from Hanoi, shared that she had been to Sa Pa many times, but this was the first time a program had moved her so much. It felt like she was attending a real, very sacred ceremony. That made her want to learn more about the culture of the Dao people.

"Thien" also becomes a valuable lesson about origins, arousing national pride in the young generation of Dao people in Sa Pa.

Chao Lao Ta, a Red Dao youth who has been ordained with the three lamps, shared that, for him, “Thieng” is not only an art program, but also a lesson to return to one’s roots.

Rituals such as finding land, praying for rain, lighting fires, and initiation ceremonies... are all sacred parts of life. When connected through the language of the stage, light, and music, they all become both familiar and overwhelming.

“As a Dao ethnic person, for many years now, I have seen Dao culture gradually disappearing. Young people do not fully understand the good and beauty, so they easily ignore it or consider it a nuisance. When I look back, I am really moved, I did not expect that those familiar things could be so beautiful. “Thien” has helped us look back and be more proud of our heritage,” Chao Lao Ta said.

For May Vy, taking on the role of narrator in the play, “Thieng” was an unforgettable experience, because there, the culture of the Dao people was not only recreated, but also elevated, sparkling and vivid. It was also a moment that helped May Vy understand more deeply about her roots and feel proud to be Dao…

Not just a stage show, “Thien” is a cultural tourism product, a crystallization of the artist’s creativity and the community’s pride, opening a new direction in the development of Sa Pa cultural tourism, which is to turn heritage into valuable cultural-tourism products, creating livelihoods from the cultural capital of the people themselves.

The live performance “Thien” has brought to Sa Pa another performing art product for tourism, created from the very material of local life. Many foreign tourists after watching the show shared that the show was worth experiencing.

On the very first night of the performance, the production crew received sincere thanks from the Dao people and domestic and foreign tourists.

Mr. Ngo Xuan Minh, Director of Hexogon Vietnam Company, the organizer of the program, shared his emotions when the Dao people thanked them for giving them a satisfying performance, when the tourists shared their feelings, he felt all the hard work throughout the year, the sleepless nights, the days of heavy rain and fog… were all worth it.

The success of “Thieng” shows the power of the community art model: the artisan is the subject, the artist is the companion, and technology is the extended arm of culture.

This is also a way for indigenous culture to not only be preserved, but also become a resource for socio-economic development, contributing to promoting the image of Vietnam to international friends.

Leaders of Lao Cai Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism highly appreciated this art project, because by bringing the good traditional cultural values of the people into the show, from folk songs, folk music, folk dances, to costumes, rituals... the program not only contributes to preserving and recreating traditional cultural values, but also creates more livelihoods for the people.

As cultural entities participating in the program, local ethnic minorities will have additional income to improve their lives, and the locality will have additional tourism products to introduce to visitors…/.

(TTXVN/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/di-san-van-hoa-dao-tren-san-khau-tu-nghe-thuat-den-du-lich-ben-vung-post1076090.vnp