Mass arts – awakening the vitality of the Muong people

Muong Bang commune mass art troupe with Muong ethnic dance.

In Muong Bang commune, the Muong ethnic people persistently preserve their cultural identity through dances and folk songs. The commune has established mass art troupes, which have become familiar meeting places where many generations practice and exchange. The elderly teach dances and Muong songs to the younger generation, and together create and stage art performances to perform during festivals and cultural exchanges.

Ms. Ha Thi Uoc, Ban Lan, Muong Bang commune, shared: In the village, people love culture, arts, and love dancing and singing. I learned Muong folk songs since I was a child, now I want to teach them to young people, hoping that today's and future generations will preserve the traditional cultural beauty of the Muong people.

The art movement has also developed strongly in many other villages in Muong Bang, such as Bang village and Kem village. Thanks to that, traditional dances such as scarf dance, dam duong dance, moi dance, along with the Moi festival or Muong mo are being preserved intact. In particular, Muong mo, a unique form of folk belief, has been included in the national intangible cultural heritage since 2023.

Mr. Ha Van Nhung, Vice Chairman of Muong Bang Commune People's Committee, said: The commune always propagates and guides the villagers to implement well the established village conventions and regulations, at the same time maintains and develops 1-2 art troupes/village; encourages regular practice. At the same time, the commune actively coordinates to organize cultural activities, creating opportunities for village art troupes to exchange, learn experiences, and improve the quality of activities.

Khau Pum village art troupe, Muong Chien commune.

In Muong Chien commune, there are many ethnic minorities living together, such as: Khang, Dao Do, Mong Den, Thai Trang, the mass art movement is encouraged to develop by the local government. Typically, the Khang ethnic folk dance club in Lo Cu village, the Mong ethnic mass art team in Khau Pum village, the Thai ethnic art team in Bon village, Quyen village... Art has become an indispensable part of the spiritual life of the people here.

Ms. Quàng Thị Bó, leader of the Khang ethnic folk dance club in Lo Cu village, Muong Chien commune, shared: The club has 15 members of different ages, regularly organizing activities and practicing traditional dances of the Khang people. We also participated in the performances of the Xe Pang Á festival and the Ruou Can festival at cultural events previously organized by Quynh Nhai district.

Performance of excerpts from the Can wine festival of the Khang ethnic group.

In recent years, the mass art troupes have grown strongly in number. To date, the province has over 2,000 mass art troupes in hamlets, villages, and sub-regions, which are the core elements in the cultural and artistic movement at the grassroots level. Art has become an indispensable spiritual food, helping people relieve stress after hard working hours. At the same time, this is an effective way to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values of each ethnic group.

Pan sub-regional art troupe, Thuan Chau commune.

Mass arts truly reflect the spiritual life of the people, containing joys, aspirations and even daily difficulties. Each song and dance carries the breath of the mountains and forests, of the fields, of traditional festivals. The stage does not need to be brilliant, just a large yard, a cultural house or right on the village stadium, but each performance is performed with all the passion of those who love arts. Performances and exchanges in the village and commune always attract a large number of people to watch and cheer, creating a joyful, excited and united atmosphere.

Cultural and artistic activities help connect residential communities.

According to Mr. Pham Hong Thu, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, every year, the Department organizes training courses for grassroots art nuclei, trains model art troupes, and invites outstanding artists to teach folk songs, folk dances, and folk music. Localities maintain sending cultural officers to the villages to guide choreography and organize performance programs. Thereby, helping to build a core team of nuclei, the "locomotive" to lead and develop the cultural and artistic movement at the grassroots level, contributing to improving the spiritual life of the people.

With the continuation from the previous generation and the passion of the younger generation, along with the attention and encouragement of development from sectors and localities, the mass art movement has developed in the right direction, contributing to building Son La homeland with a rich identity, civilization and beauty.

Source: https://baosonla.vn/van-hoa-xa-hoi/van-nghe-quan-chung-khoi-day-suc-song-ban-muong-pWluuwuHg.html