Self-composed and self-performed acts
The children's performance encompassed almost all the art forms of the Hmong people during the New Year celebrations. From playing flutes and reed pipes, to throwing balls and dancing… And the best part was the performance by some of the boys, who simultaneously played reed pipes and performed acrobatics.
The program was rather long, very captivating, and smooth, seemingly without any flaws. Teacher Vi Van Hung, the school's Head of the Youth Union, commented: "Today you all did very well, exceeding my expectations." He then explained to me that this performance was quite complex, for example, the act of simultaneously playing the flute and performing acrobatics. The students had to practice many times and truly love it to be able to do it. Because when performing acrobatics, they had to maintain the correct rhythm and melody of the flute; otherwise, not only would they play incorrectly, but the dance troupe would also be out of tune.
I was mesmerized by the captivated gazes that followed the graceful movements of their hands, the flirtatious gestures as they changed steps; their hands, like tender bamboo shoots, both soft and strong as they transitioned from the umbrella dance to the horse-riding dance… Teacher Hung continued: “This is a self-composed and self-performed act, written by me!”
I asked in surprise, "Teacher, you're Thai, how can you choreograph Hmong cultural performances?"
We have to learn, brother. I'm a member of the Ky Son District Folk Arts Team, so I've learned a lot from the Mong artisans. Besides that, we invite Mr. Vu Lau Phong, a skilled khen flute player, to occasionally teach the children. If it weren't for Mr. Phong, I'm sure soon no one in Tay Son would ever hear the sound of the khen flute again...
Let the sound of the bamboo flute "resound far and wide"...
Dr. La Thi Thanh Huyen - Vice Principal of Tay Son Ethnic Boarding Primary School and Head of the Club, shared: Ky Son is a region with rich tourism potential, especially folk cultural tourism. Our ambition is to build a tourism school model, thereby training students in some basic skills for potential professions in the tourism industry; and at the same time helping students develop a sense of learning and career orientation for the future.
The establishment of the Club primarily aims to attract the attention of students, igniting love and pride in the unique cultural values of the Hmong people, so that they feel responsible for preserving and promoting their ethnic cultural identity... In addition, by participating in the Club, students also receive information on many other topics such as combating child marriage and abandoning outdated customs…
Ms. Huyen honestly stated: "According to the survey, only 41.58% of students believe that tourism activities are very important. However, we are not discouraged by this. The reason is that some students do not fully understand the importance of the tourism industry to economic development and to changing the lives of themselves, their families, and their villages."
"Just the fact that if there are tourists, the children can participate in performing arts to entertain them will change their thinking and mindset. Because they will gradually understand that tourism is not just about 'going out to have fun,' but also about experiencing, enjoying, and feeling many things. Working in tourism is not just about singing and dancing, but also about guiding tourists, managing, promoting, and marketing tourism..." - Ms. Huyen affirmed.
Vu Ba Tuan, a 9th-grade student, shared: “Besides dancing, singing, and playing the flute, our teachers also introduced us to the tourism potential of our commune and some tourism skills. I wish that more and more tourists from all over the world would come to my hometown. Beautiful and pristine places like Huoi Giang 1 and Huoi Giang 2 villages, where there is the precious seven-leaf one-flower ginseng; or visitors to Si Di mountain, where there are precious and beautiful Pơ Mu and Sa Mu forests like in a painting, and a cool climate.”
Goodbye Pu Lon, goodbye teachers and students of Tay Son Ethnic Boarding School, my heart is filled with mixed emotions. Mount Pu Lon has fallen asleep. In the hurried twilight, the sound of the Hmong flute still lingers. Though the melodies are not yet perfect, the flute playing not yet masterful, they have resonated far and wide…
Ms. Tran Thi My Hanh – Director of the Department of Culture and Sports of Nghe An province: The Mong ethnic folk art preservation club of Tay Son Ethnic Boarding Primary and Secondary School is a very good model to attract the attention of students, igniting love and pride in the unique cultural values of the Mong ethnic group, so that they have the responsibility to preserve and promote their ethnic cultural identity... In addition, by participating in the club, students also receive information on many other topics such as combating child marriage and abandoning outdated customs. In the future, the Department may provide more financial support to equip the club with tools for its activities.
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