March 06, 2017 | 20:34 (GMT+7)
Ai Lao singing and dance- a national intangible cultural heritage
PANO - Ai Lao singing and dance of Phuc Loi ward, Long Bien district, Hanoi, has been recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage which has been carefully preserved by the locality.
The unique feature of such a genre is that it is practiced in just a ward and performed in festivals with spiritual, historical and cultural significance in praise of national heroes and patriotism.
PANO would like to introduce some images of the Ai Lao singing and dance, taken on March 5th when the art was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage.
Traditionally, before the Giong festival, the giap (a group of certain male villagers of the same clan) in charge of singing and dancing at the event gather to select qualified male villagers aged from 18-49 whose families should not have been in mourning period.
The giap chooses 22 members to perform Ai Lao singing and dance, leaders of the giap, and a village herald to prepare meals for them
Each member of the giap has to bring along a pineapple leaf hat, one ao the (long dress for Vietnamese men), two white trousers, a green or red belt, and a pair of bamboo sinh (a kind of musical instrument like clappers)
Under new regulations, male participants must age from 35 upwards and should be volunteers
A present Ai Lao troupe has 28 members, including Mr. Ho (Tiger), Mr. Cau, 21 singers among others.
Most of Ai Lao troupe’s members are in the clan.
In Ai Lao singing and dance, Mr. Ho represents the nature’s power conquered by Saint Giong. Nowadays, Ai Lao members consider Mr. Ho a mandarin assigned by the God to assist Saint Giong. The one selected as Mr. Ho must be healthy, tall and capable of dance.
Mr. Cau symbolizes daily life and love. The person in charge of Mr. Cau must be good at dancing and a symbol of couple love.
Ai Lao troupe often performs 14 songs. At Giong festival, the troupe sings 12 songs
The recognition of Ai Lao singing and dance as a national intangible cultural heritage will open up a new page in preserving, developing, and enriching the Vietnamese cultural identities. It is the pride of Phuc Loi ward’s authorities and people
Ai Lao songs are adapted from poems.
Historical stories are told via Ai Lao singing and dance. Songs will be selected to suit the performing places and time.
According to cultural researchers, Ai Lao singing and dance has strict regulations and is performed in a certain time
Such a heritage is hoped to promote cultural tourism in the ward.
Translated by Mai Huong