The milestone of being recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2022 seems to provide more motivation for the unique dances of the ethnic group to be passed down and flourish amidst the modern flow.

Dances from bamboo and cane

Elite Artisan Quàng Văn Cá, from Tọ Cuông village (Búng Lao commune), is currently one of the few people knowledgeable about Khơ Mú culture, including the art of dancing. Quàng Văn Cá is also the person who presides over traditional festivals in the Khơ Mú community in Tọ Cuông. According to Quàng Văn Cá, in the cultural and religious activities of the Khơ Mú people, dancing is an indispensable part. Dancing is closely associated with rituals and festivals such as: village offerings, rain praying, crop praying, new rice celebrations, as well as in every joyful gathering. And it is the props and musical instruments crafted from bamboo and cane that create the unique characteristics of Khơ Mú dances.

A prime example is the tăm đao, the most popular musical instrument, made from a cane tube. When struck, it creates a series of vibrating double sounds, sometimes whispering, sometimes echoing far away. This musical instrument, which is also a prop, originated from a tool used to scare birds away from eating seed rice during the sowing season. Or the tót and pí tơm are types of flutes, crafted from bamboo segments, but with different designs, creating distinct sounds.

“In the past, the lives of our grandparents and ancestors were very simple. Whenever they lacked any tools or utensils, they went to the forest to break bamboo and cane to make them. Then, during the making process, holding the trunk to strike, blow... they found it created a good, catchy sound, so they brought it to use in dances. Over time, they were modified, crafted, perfected, and formed into the musical instruments and props as they are now,” Quàng Văn Cá recounted.

According to Lường Thị Nên, a member of the Khơ Mú performance team in Ten village, Mường Phăng commune, the interesting thing is that these props can be modified according to the user’s needs, rather than strictly following a framework. Some products are used directly in dancing as props. However, they can also be considered musical instruments that create sounds to guide the dancer according to their own rhythm and tempo.

“For example, in the tube-striking dance (tăng bẳng tăng bu), bamboo tubes are struck against the stilt house floor or a wooden surface to create sound and rhythm. As for the tăm đao dance, there are holes on the body of the đao to adjust the sound. If the user is skillful, these holes act like musical notes creating a rhythm, making the dance more impressive and attractive,” Lường Thị Nên shared.

According to local cultural research documents, Khơ Mú dance movements are often associated with activities in daily life. For instance, the ong eo dance involves hip swaying and waist bending, simulating gestures and movements such as: harvesting rice, picking corn, gathering vegetables, weeding, catching shrimp, and washing clothes. The cá lượn (gliding fish) dance is performed on joyous occasions and house-repairing ceremonies, with movements simulating the tail flicking and movement of fish.

Because they originate from and recreate the productive working life, Khơ Mú dance movements are often fast, strong, and exude healthiness. Gongs and drums are often used in dances; the stronger and faster the gongs are beaten, the harder the dancers’ hand-held props strike the ground, and the more rushed the dance rhythm becomes, creating a thrilling atmosphere that draws everyone to join in the dance.

Passing on the flame of heritage

The Khơ Mú ethnic group in Điện Biên currently has over 22,000 people, accounting for about 3.9% of the province’s total population. According to research documents from the Cultural Heritage Management Office as well as the provincial Museum under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, currently, the performance art of Khơ Mú dance is being practiced, preserved, and promoted in 66 villages in the province. In 2022, the art of Khơ Mú dance was officially announced as a national intangible cultural heritage. Since then, the preservation and practice of dancing have taken place more actively among the Khơ Mú people in various localities.

Kéo village (Mường Phăng commune) has nearly 90 Khơ Mú households residing, with a population of over 500 people. Quàng Văn Thanh, Head of Kéo village, stated: “For many years, the integrated life has had many other joys, so many young people no longer pay attention to dancing. Being recognized as a national heritage is not only an honor for us, showing the true value of this art, but has also created motivation for the Khơ Mú people to continue preserving and promoting it for future generations.”

Hua Ca village (Quài Tở commune) established its own dance team and has maintained operations for many years, with very active activities. The dance team is mainly taught by Quàng Thị Hinh. Quàng Thị Hinh is both an elder who understands the Khơ Mú ethnic group and loves culture and arts. The team does not only select those who know how to dance; anyone who is hardworking and has the desire can join. Those who know how to dance or play musical instruments will teach those who do not, participating on a voluntary basis.

“Ever since we were little, we were taught to dance by our grandmothers and mothers. But having not practiced for a long time, many women forgot everything. When the village established the dance team, I joined to have more opportunities to dance for the people to watch. But more importantly, I want the young generation in the village to love singing and dancing as much as I do. Now we don’t have to wait for festivals or Tết holidays; every weekend, the villagers get to enjoy traditional dances,” Lường Thị Tiên, a member of the Hua Ca village dance team, confided.

To preserve and promote the unique art of dancing, in recent years, specialized agencies and units under the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism have organized, coordinated to restore, and preserved many festivals of the Khơ Mú people in localities, which are closely associated with the art of dancing. These activities aim to preserve while promoting and more widely popularizing the art form of Khơ Mú dance in the modern cultural flow.

At every cultural, art event, competition, and performance of the province, sectors, and local authorities encourage the Khơ Mú community to actively participate. In particular, being recognized as a cultural heritage has helped the people change their perception and awareness of the ethnic group’s traditional dance form. Since then, there has been more attention and investment in preserving and promoting its value so that the art of dancing can flourish.