Preserving the "music" and folk dances of the Khmer people in schools

STO - In many different ways, many ethnic boarding schools in Soc Trang province have taught students folk dances and five-tone music of the Khmer people. In addition, the schools have also created conditions for students to practice, perform, and exchange in festivals and events held in the province. This contributes to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural values of the Khmer people.

Every Saturday evening, after the internal activities, students of Huynh Cuong Ethnic Minority High School exchange arts, perform pentatonic music, and Khmer folk dances. Mr. Thach Anh Tu - Vice Principal of Huynh Cuong Ethnic Minority High School informed: “The school has established the Pentatonic Music - Dance Club, which has been operating for many years. This club gathers students who love Pentatonic music and Khmer dances to practice together and serve on holidays, Tet, anniversaries or conferences held in the school. In addition to bare-handed dances, students also dance with props such as coconut shell dance, scarf dance, etc. In addition, the school also participates in competitions and festivals of Khmer songs, dances and music, winning many awards. Typically, at the Soc Trang Province Ethnic Minority High School Arts Competition, after 3 times participating, the school won first prize. This competition brings together ethnic minority schools to perform in the following genres: solo, duet, trio, song and dance, independent dance, and traditional musical instrument ensemble ” .

Students of Huynh Cuong Ethnic Minority High School perform pentatonic music on the occasion of holidays and Tet. Photo: NGOC HAI

Thach Phuc Hau, a 10th grader at Huynh Cuong Ethnic Minority High School, was very excited to participate in the performance of pentatonic music three times during the festival and holidays held at the school. “At the beginning of this school year, I learned to play pentatonic music, and after 1 month I had mastered the basics. With the guidance of my seniors and friends at school, I am very confident in performing during festivals, meetings or festivals held at the school. I am studying because of my passion for traditional musical instruments and the desire to preserve the unique traditional music form of the Khmer people,” Phuc Hau shared.

In 2023, Huynh Cuong Ethnic Minority High School coordinated with the Provincial Khmer Art Troupe to organize 2 Rom vong dance classes, with 40 students in grades 10 and 11 attending. This activity is within the framework of the project "Preserving and promoting the fine traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities associated with tourism development" in Soc Trang province in 2023. Mr. Thach Anh Tu informed: "The students are taught by artisans, artists, and dancers with qualifications, expertise, and many years of experience working in the field of traditional Khmer dance. Focusing on 2 parts: basic issues in the traditional Khmer dance form; instructing and teaching practical skills in Rom vong and Saravan dance movements".

Lam Cao Duc Phat, a 10th grader at Huynh Cuong Ethnic Minority High School, was taught Rom vong and Saravan dance by his grandmother when he was 12 years old. Therefore, he really likes these folk dances. When he learned that the school had a class, he immediately signed up and attended regularly without missing a single class. Phat said: “When I was little, my grandmother taught me and my second sister to dance. The difficulty is that I have to bend my hands and walk gracefully and rhythmically to the music.”

On the other hand, many ethnic minority schools use Khmer traditional dances to replace physical exercises during mid-class physical education. Mr. Ly Minh The - Vice Principal of My Xuyen Secondary School for Ethnic Minority Students said: “In the 2018-2019 school year, the school organized a group Madison dance. After that, this dance was implemented to replace the 5-minute morning physical education exercises on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, because the students have physical education classes, they do not dance. At the beginning of each school year, the team leader, physical education teachers, and some teachers who know Khmer dance teach the new 6th graders. Through this activity, the students relieve stress and fatigue during class and love their traditional dances more.”

In addition, once a month, the school allows students to register for performing arts, not only creating a useful playground but also developing the cultural and artistic movement at the school. The performances are mainly Khmer folk songs and dances. The school selects talented students to join the school's art team, and trains them to participate in performances during the Chol Chnam Thmay Festival, Sene Dolta Festival and competitions. It is gratifying that the school won second prize in the Soc Trang Ethnic Minority High School Art Competition three times.

Ho Thi Hong Duong, a 9th grade student at My Xuyen Secondary School for Ethnic Minorities, has a talent for singing, so outside of school hours, she constantly practices her voice and dance to bring a special performance. Duong boasted: “My father, mother, sister and I all know how to dance and sing. We all share a passion for Khmer folk music. I have participated in the Soc Trang Ethnic Minority High School Performing Arts Competition twice, and I am very proud of myself for contributing to the school's achievements.”

With the aim of contributing to preserving the national cultural identity, with many different forms but with the same destination, ethnic minority schools in Soc Trang province have been formed and promoted the awareness of preserving the beauty through folk dances and traditional musical instruments of the Khmer people in schools. Teacher Thach Anh Tu boasted: "Some students of the school, when graduating from high school, chose to study Traditional Musical Instrument Performance at Tra Vinh University, and after graduating, went to perform at home and abroad. I feel proud of that". Right from the school, the "seeds" of potential for Khmer folk singing and dancing have been sown, contributing to the " sound of music " and folk dances forever being passed down from generation to generation.

NGOC HAI

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