In Hanoi, it is easy to see skillful dragon dance performances on the streets. Dragons appear in almost all important events, festivals, and festivals of the Capital...
For the past few months, every afternoon at around 4:XNUMX p.m., the training grounds of the lion and dragon martial arts troupe Tuong Nghia Duong (Chuong My district, Hanoi) are bustling with drums. Dozens of young people from the group gathered in the communal house yard to practice dragon dances together. Spring has come, the members of the troupe are diligently practicing to have special performances to serve the people.
Master Bui Viet Tuong, Head of the Lion and Dragon Martial Arts Troupe Tuong Nghia Duong, said that dragon dance and lion dance require a rhythmic combination of drumming, sometimes leisurely, sometimes intense vocal sounds, and the person's movements. perform. The music is the catalyst that creates the charisma and majesty of the dragon, helping the performance to be successful.
With 15 years of performing experience, master Bui Viet Tuong said that anyone can participate in dragon dance, but it is very difficult to dance well and well. People directly participating in the dragon dance must have endurance, excitement, and focus on the tasks of each position. Ten people as one, all must coordinate smoothly to exude the dragon's charisma and the characteristics of each performance. In addition, in roles, dragon head dancers must have the most skillful dancing techniques and good health because dragon heads are often heavier and more difficult to control than other parts.
Thang Long land is the cradle of the development of dragon dance. With Hanoi - "the city of flying dragons", the dragon image is even closer and dearer. Through history, dragon dancing was mentioned by our ancestors very early, and to this day, this form is still popular in many regions, especially in Son Tay town or Trieu Khuc village (Thanh Tri district). ... Many villages during summer festivals and holidays also organize dragon dance competitions with the dances of dragons adoring, dragons gliding, dragons flying, dragons meandering..., creating a more joyful atmosphere for the traditional festival, conveying wishes for the future. A year of bountiful harvests and prosperity. In particular, in Vietnam, dragons are associated with wet rice agriculture and are considered totems associated with the legend "the dragon, the fairy's grandson".
Talking about the skills to have a unique dragon dance performance, master Nguyen Van Thuc - Head of the Nga My Thuong Lion and Dragon Club (Thanh Oai district, Hanoi) said that if lion dance requires a lot of Technically, dragon dance also requires solidarity and understanding between the team. To have smooth performances, martial artists must practice regularly to "catch" each other's ideas. Therefore, Master Thuc requested the Club to have regular activities 3 times a week. Young people aged 14 - 25, if desired, can join the Club for free. Because it is a difficult subject, at first, students will only practice simple sound sensing skills, learn to play drums, and then begin practicing dragon control techniques.
According to martial arts master Nguyen Van Thuc, when performing dragon dance, there are a number of unwritten taboos that need to be followed. For example, the dragon in Vietnam is the mascot responsible for making rain, creating "winds and favorable weather", so when performing, the dance troupe will often take the lead, followed by the palanquin with offerings and ceremonial staff. Arriving at the communal house or place of worship, the dragon will be respectfully brought into the harem, and then the ceremony owner will perform a sacrifice to ask for a year of good weather and good weather. Furthermore, to have beautiful dances, martial artists must practice diligently. The dragon's expressions are also a combination of emotions. From this emotion, dances such as ban long (running in a circle), chi chi (S-shaped), thuy ba (bobbing water waves), Phong Dang (jumping up high), Phong Chuan (wind rotating) are created from this emotion. ), phi long (flying dragon)... Dragon dance cannot lack "jewels". Jade is a ball kept in an iron frame, tied to the handle of a bamboo stick. There is a bell hanging on the end of the stick so that it makes a sound when dancing. According to the explanation, when the dragon is in the cloud and hears the cry, it will come out to grab the pearl and the dance will begin. The person holding the jade must also know the song to lead the dance.
Saying goodbye to the urgent rhythms of the drums and the graceful yet powerful images of the dragon performance, I suddenly realized that the scent of spring was very near. Along with blooming peach and apricot branches, bustling dragon and lion dances signal the coming of a peaceful and happy new spring./.
hanoimoi.com.vn
