New vitality from highland art clubs

Pa Hy Traditional Folk Song Club has contributed to preserving the culture and traditional arts of the Pa Hy people.

One afternoon at the A Luoi 1 commune cultural house, graceful footsteps echoed with the familiar sound of gongs. This is a regular activity of the A Luoi 1 commune Folk Arts Club, formed in early 2024 with more than 20 members, mostly young people who love folk songs and dances.

In the middle of the practice circle, Ms. Ho Thi Leu, Head of the Folk Arts Club, patiently guides each movement, reminding each footstep to keep the beat correct. “When there is a fixed place to practice, more people come. The children learn quickly, and the more they practice, the more enthusiastic they become,” Ms. Leu shared.

The club maintains regular activities, practicing dances and folk songs typical of the Pa Co - Ta Oi people. Many group activities are spent recording old songs, restoring traditional instruments such as the zither, panpipe, and drum. This helps members understand more deeply the timbre, rhythm and meaning of each performance.

The cultural movement in the highlands continues to be revitalized by the Arel Linh Art Club of A Luoi 2 commune. Led by A Rel Thuy Linh, who grew up in an artistic environment since childhood and has a professional background in vocal music and choreography, the club quickly attracted more than 20 official members and many young people who participate irregularly. All meet in the afternoons to practice, adjust each movement and agree on the lineup before each performance.

In the familiar home yard, Linh always stands in the center, demonstrating the movements and reminding each step to be correct. “Just one movement out of rhythm and the performance will lose the identity of our nation,” Linh shared.

Thanks to the ability to combine singing and dancing harmoniously, Arel Linh Club is invited to perform by many agencies, units, tourist attractions and homestays. Each performance brings closeness but still retains the characteristics of highland culture. For young members, this is also an opportunity to tell the story of their people through music , movement and traditional costumes.

In Binh Dien commune, the Pa Hy Traditional Folk Song Club maintains regular activities at the community house, where the gong sounds and cha chap melodies resound familiarly in each practice session. During the activities, the artists sing samples, instructing each beat and each verse for the young generation to learn and remember. Many traditional folk songs and dances that were once absent in life are now more fully expressed thanks to the perseverance of the members.

For the Pa Hy, maintaining the club is not only to maintain a cultural and artistic activity, but also to preserve customs and community spirit. Thanks to its stable activities and the participation of both young people and older artisans, the Pa Hy Traditional Folk Song Club has contributed to helping the Pa Hy identity continue to be present in today's life.

Meritorious Artisan Ho Thi Tu (former Deputy Head of the Department of Culture, Science and Information of the former A Luoi district) highly appreciated the role of clubs in preserving the cultural identity of the highlands. She shared: Clubs create an environment for young people to relearn each dance and song. When there is a stable place to live, the movement grows stronger, many values are restored. The locality always creates conditions for groups to participate in performances, which is a way to help folk culture step out of the village and become known to more people. Supporting costumes, props, venues and creating opportunities to perform in major events not only helps members practice their skills but also spreads folk culture to tourists and the community. This is an important step to maintain the vitality of highland culture in the current context.

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