Students from Le Quy Don Specialized High School experience traditional Vietnamese opera and folk singing.

(GLO) - On the afternoon of November 14th, Le Quy Don Specialized High School, in collaboration with Trung Anh Trading and Tourism Service Company Limited and the Gia Lai Provincial Traditional Arts Theater, organized an experience for over 100 students to learn about the art of traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi) and folk singing (bai choi).

In the colorfully decorated space of the theater's traditional hall, the students listened to an introduction to the history of the art of traditional Vietnamese opera, including the distinctive masks, makeup, costumes, and dances of Binh Dinh opera.

Students learn about the costumes and masks used in Binh Dinh's traditional opera. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan.

Visiting the reconstructed model of the Học Bộ Đình - the traditional opera school of Đào Tấn. Photo: Ngọc Nhuận.

Through Bài Chòi, students learn about the traditional Bài Chòi game, the Bài Chòi theatrical art of Binh Dinh. They also understand the origins, gameplay, and cultural significance of the Bài Chòi folk heritage of Central Vietnam, including the Bài Chòi folk of Binh Dinh, which has been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

Listening to an introduction about the folk art of Bài Chòi, the Bài Chòi theatrical performance of Binh Dinh. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan.

In addition to sightseeing, students from Le Quy Don Specialized High School also went to the theater to watch the actors and musicians of the Binh Dinh Bai Choi Opera Troupe ( thuộc Gia Lai Provincial Traditional Arts Theater) rehearse the Bai Choi opera "The River Tells Stories" in preparation for participating in the 2025 National Tuong and Folk Opera Festival, which will take place from November 17 to 26 in Hanoi .

Watch the Binh Dinh traditional folk opera troupe rehearse the play " The River Tells a Story" . Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

The activity that excited the students the most was painting traditional Vietnamese opera masks. They directly followed the models, sketched with pencils, and used watercolor brushes to paint the patterns on the composite mask blanks.

Staff at the Gia Lai Provincial Traditional Arts Theatre guide students in painting masks for traditional opera performances. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan.

Students enthusiastically draw masks for traditional Vietnamese opera performances. Photo: Ngoc Nhuan

Organizing experiential learning sessions on traditional Vietnamese opera (hat boi and bai choi) aims to help students access and nurture their love for traditional art. This is also a way to bring traditional theatrical arts closer to young people, creating a bridge to preserve and spread the national cultural heritage.

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/hoc-sinh-truong-thpt-chuyen-le-quy-don-trai-nghiem-hat-boi-bai-choi-post572295.html