In recent years, the authorities of Da Nang and Quang Nam Province have paid special attention to preserving and promoting traditional dances of the Cham. Most recently, from July - August 2022, artistes from the Da Nang Dancers’ Association have performed 5 new dance moves with the aim to bring a contemporary breath into each dance performance but still retain the national soul.

Actors are seen performing a 'Back to the temple and tower' dance which is one of the five newly-staged works on Cham royal dance. Photo: K.H

Bringing breath of life to dance

As the author of the choreography of the dance performance entitled ‘The Echo of the Ancient Tower’, Meritorious Artist Phan Hoang Ha, Chairman of the Professional Council of the municipal Dancers’ Association, said that the performance was staged in a week with the participation of 7 dancers. The performance simulates the dances with drums in Blamon festivals of Cham people.

Meritorious Artist Phan Hoang Ha said that in order to stage a work of Cham dance, the important requirement is to highlight the unique culture of the Cham. However, local dancers find it very hard to do that because Cham culture mainly develops in Ninh Thuan and Binh Thuan provinces and they do not have many opportunities to approach and experience the real life of Cham people. Therefore, it is difficult to bring out the spirit of Cham culture in the dance.

“Despite such a disadvantage, the actors have made great efforts in researching to perfect the best quality work. We have always received much attention from, and have been facilitated by, the city’s Dancers’ Association in the process of staging the work" said Mr. Ha.

Meanwhile, choreographed by hip-hop artist and choreographer Le Hoang Chau, 32, the dance performance ‘Back to temple tower’ is inspired by the shaping movements of Tra Kieu dancers in Cham culture on the modern hip hop music background.

Through this work, artist Hoang Chau wants to bring the culture and folk arts of Viet Nam's ethnic minority groups, specifically the traditional Cham dance, closer to young audiences.

Those are 2 of the 5 Cham dance performances implemented by the municipal Dancers’ Association from July - August 2022 as part of the Association’s plan to restore and preserve Cham culture, including dances.

The 5 dance performances are ‘Back to temple tower’ choreographed by hip hop artist and choreographer Hoang Chau, ‘Wake up for a thousand years’ by choreographer Nguyen Cuong, ‘Durga Dance’ by choreographer Thuc Linh, ‘The joy of the Door Guardian (Dvarapala)’ by choreographer Ha Long, and ‘The echo of the ancient tower’ by Meritorious Artist Hoang Ha.

Assessing the quality and artistic value of five newly staged Cham dance performances, artist Huynh Kim Ngoc, Chairwoman of the Da Nang Dancers’ Association, said that these works meet the Association’s basic expectations in combining the cultural identity of Cham people with modern dance, or in other words, in bringing the breath of life into each dance performance in order to bring it closer to the audience.

Efforts to conquer the audience

People's Artist Le Huan, former Chairman of the municipal Dancers’ Association, said that Cham dance is a precious capital of the national culture, contributing to creating a unique identity for localities from Quang Tri to Ninh Thuan. After 1975, from the emotions of admiring the statues in the My Son Sanctuary in Quang Nam Province, and the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture, Vietnamese choreographers have staged many Cham dance performances, including Cham royal dance.

People's Artist Le Huan himself is one of those who deeply exploit this topic through staging many works of artistic and aesthetic value.

According to the assessment of People's Artist Le Huan, choreographers for many generations have understood cultural values, aesthetic values, artistic structural values ​​and characteristics, cultural identities, and artistic identities of dance, including the Cham royal dance. Particularly, the aforementioned dance performances basically meet the requirements. However, artistes and choreographers need to study more deeply to understand the culture and royal dance of Cham in order to produce works of real high value.

Currently, the preservation of Cham dances, including Cham royal dance, is always interested by the local Dancers’ Association.

Artist Huynh Kim Ngoc said, the Association is seeking for appraisal and permission from the Viet Nam Dancers’ Association to coordinate with the Museum of Cham Sculpture to perform the newly-staged dances once a week so as to bring them closer to the audience, contributing to widely promoting the type of Cham royal dance.

Reporting by KHANH HOA - Translating by M.DUNG