Stage adaptation of folk art

- Amidst the vibrant flow of modern life, the traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups in the province are quietly preserved and continue to spread. Contributing to this process is the dedication of the local artists and artisans, who tirelessly bring the essence of folk culture to the stage. Thanks to them, folk songs and traditional dances are not only preserved but also nurtured and spread throughout the community, especially among the younger generation.

Artists and performers from the Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe perform the "Lay Co" dance at the Hang Po Festival in Thien Thuat commune in 2024.

Lang Son is a land where many ethnic groups live together, each possessing a unique cultural heritage with lyrical folk songs, traditional dances rich in identity, and distinct customs and practices. Besides preserving and promoting cultural values ​​in community life, bringing these folk art forms to the stage is considered a suitable approach, helping to bring folk songs and dances closer to the public and making them more easily accepted.

Meritorious Artist Phung Van Muon, Chairman of the Provincial Folk Song Preservation Association, commented: Traditional folk songs and dances, which are closely associated with community life, will easily fade away over time if they only exist within the confines of villages. When staged and performed on stage, they are "refreshed" in their form of expression, thus having a greater chance of sustainably surviving in modern life. Stage adaptation of folk art forms helps traditional values ​​continue to thrive in contemporary life.

Currently, the province has 9 recognized national intangible cultural heritage sites, including traditional festivals, rituals, and folk performing arts. These are valuable heritage sites, representing the long-standing and distinctive traditional culture of the ethnic groups in Lang Son, and are still being maintained with enduring vitality, serving as material for stage performances.

The Provincial Folk Arts Troupe is a professional performing arts unit of the province, playing a core role in preserving and promoting folk cultural values. In recent years, the troupe's directors and choreographers have spent a lot of time going on field trips to villages, meeting with artisans, and documenting and collecting traditional folk songs, music, and dances. In 2025 alone, the troupe organized 120 performances, achieving 109% of its plan, including 30 performances serving people in remote areas, contributing to improving the cultural and spiritual life of the people. Furthermore, many meticulously and professionally staged performances have contributed to promoting and spreading the unique traditional cultural values ​​of the ethnic groups of Lang Son province.

Ms. Hoang Thi Ha, Head of the Provincial Ethnic Arts Troupe, said: "We always consider collecting and researching folk materials as a crucial foundation in artistic creation. Therefore, every year, we develop a work program that focuses on researching and collecting traditional folk art forms of ethnic groups in the province to incorporate into the creation and choreography of new artistic works that are both deeply rooted in ethnic identity and suitable for today's audience tastes. Each performance is not just a show, but also a cultural story told through the language of art."

Besides professional performing arts, the folk culture of the ethnic groups in Lang Son is also preserved and disseminated through amateur performing arts groups and local artisans. For example, Dong Dang commune is one of the areas with a widespread amateur performing arts movement. The entire commune currently has 30 folk song clubs, mainly focusing on Then singing and Dan Tinh playing, and Sli singing, with an average of 15 to 30 members of various ages. The clubs regularly maintain practice sessions and perform at local events. In addition to skillfully performing folk songs and melodies, some members also dedicate time to collecting and researching new lyrics for Then and Sli songs.

Furthermore, these artisans – living treasures of human history – have pioneered the selection of excerpts from folk beliefs and performing arts to adapt and bring to the stage.

Distinguished artisan Nguyen Van Tho from Trang Dinh commune shared: "I have chosen to adapt some excerpts from the ancient then rituals of the Tay and Nung people to perform at several festivals and competitions. In 2024, I won the C prize for the ritual excerpt: 'Lau Then Khai Quang Cap Sac' at the 7th Tay, Nung, and Thai Ethnic Groups' Then Singing and Dan Tinh Art Festival."

Preserving culture is not just about preserving what already exists, but also about ensuring those values ​​continue to live and thrive in modern life. When folk melodies still resonate and traditional dances remain present on stage and in community life, it is the clearest evidence of the enduring vitality of national culture.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/dua-hon-dan-gian-len-san-khau-5087885.html