Paying attention to preserve the lion dance heritage of the Tay and Nung people

(LSO) – The lion dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic people in Lang Son province is recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage, according to Decision No. 1852 of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, May 8, 2017. Since then, the conservation of this heritage has been paid more attention by all levels, branches and people, contributing to preserving and promoting the traditional cultural identity in modern life.

The lion dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in the area has many different names, but the most common one is still cat lion dance. This is a type of traditional folk art, containing many elements such as music, dance, martial arts …, which vividly and attractively reflects the the view of human life, of the world, thought, love and aspiration of the Lang Son’s Tay and Nung people. Every year, especially during the spring festivals, it will be bustling with lion dance everywhere. It is the essence of the event, creating a unique character in Lang Son, contributing to keep and attracting tourists …

Lion dance team in Hai Yen commune, Cao Loc district performs at the commune cultural festival

Over the past years, organizations and individuals from the province to grassroots have paid attention to implementing many measures to preserve and promote the lion dance heritage. In which, first of all, it must count the teaching work of artisans and knowledgeable people. Currently, the province has 602 artisans who can practice dances and performances; there are nearly 140 artisans capable of teaching; 57 artisans are capable of crafting lion’s head and related props … Mr. Hoang Van Choong, Na Sam town, Van Lang district shared that after retiring, from 2002 up to now, he had produced nearly 200 sets of lion dance props for both adults and children. At the same time, he also taught lion dance to many generations of people in the area with the expectation that this art form would develop …

As Mr. Choong, those who have experience and enthusiasm in lion dance have contributed to the development of this art form in the area. According to statistics, the province currently has 79 lion dance teams of Tay and Nung ethnic groups with more than 910 members, distributed in many villages, hamlets and blocks of 40 communes, wards and towns.

Mr. Phan Van Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said “In addition to spontaneous teaching activities among the people, from 2016 until now, the Department has chaired and coordinated with the People’s Committees of districts and city to organize 55 classes teaching lion dance at the grassroots levels, attracting about 160 students to participate. These students will gradually become the resources to popularize the lion dance within community, contributing to preserving and teaching this traditional dance.

Besides, lion dance is one of the art forms that are interested in performing, introduced and promoted in cultural activities and events in and by agencies from the province to grassroots level the province, specifically in Week of culture, sports and tourism; Mau Son Tourism Festival (years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020) … In addition, from 2016 up to now, the province and district level have organized 2 contests and shows about lion dance, attracting dozens of teams and hundreds of artisans to participate in exchanges and performances.

In order to continue to preserve and promote the value of the lion dance heritage of the Tay and Nung people, in 2020, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has advised the Provincial People’s Committee to develop a project to conserve and promote the heritage of the lion dance of the Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Lang Son province, period 2020 – 2030. In includes the research, survey, evaluation, information and documents on lion dance heritage of Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Lang Son province in a scientific and systematic way. On that basis, it is able to build the content and solutions to preserve and promote the value of lion dance heritages of Tay and Nung ethnic groups in Lang Son province to ensure suitability and efficiency …