Cham dance

Fan dance at My Son relic, photo by Mai Tam (1) — Fan dance at My Son relic site. Photo: MAI TAM

Building a professional team

Traditional dance art that exists in the Cham community today is mainly folk dance. Since My Son was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage in 1999, local managers have had the idea of introducing Cham folk dance to perform here.

The My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board established the Cham Folk Art Troupe and performed regularly for tourists since July 2004. Initially, the troupe had 11 actors, including 6 members who were Cham artists and actors from Ninh Thuan province. The troupe was guided and taught by folk culture researcher Hai Lien, folk artist Truong Ton and other Cham artists.

After 20 years, the number of actors has increased to 28; the main performance is at My Son Cham Folk Art Performance House.

A program including performances: Cham village festival drums, water dance, traditional folk dance of four dances (created by the Ninh Thuan province Cham Folk Art Troupe from folk dances), Saranai solo (transmitted by folk artist Truong Ton), Shiva tower statue dance (author Dang Hung), Apsara dancer (choreographer Tho Thai, music by Amu Nhan). Every day, the team usually performs 3 shows in the morning, 2 shows in the afternoon and 2 shows performed at tower group G.

In fact, although Cham dance and singing have been organized in many places, when performed at My Son, it still brings viewers indescribable emotions. Perhaps, the most different point is that this art form is performed in the space of the valley with the temple towers and the incarnation of Cham artists and local actors.

Contribute to promoting heritage values

Mr. Nguyen Cong Khiet - Director of My Son Cultural Heritage Management Board said that the introduction of Cham dance to the performance at My Son heritage site recently was a reasonable step. This aimed to introduce Cham folk art to tourists, contributing to promoting and preserving the culture of the Cham community. In particular, Cham dance art is difficult, finding performers is even more difficult.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu - former officer of the Ninh Thuan Cham Cultural Research Center, expressed: "Intangible culture creates attraction, revives heritage, so Cham dance performances need to be promoted.

However, we should distinguish which is a purely folk excerpt and which is artistic, which is a work of art. For example, the Shiva dance is not folk but staged by artist Dang Hung with a basis and creativity, it needs a narration for everyone to understand.

Mr. Le Xuan Loi - Director of the Center for Cham Cultural Research in Ninh Thuan province, said: "There has not been any in-depth, specific research to know exactly how the rituals and festivals took place here in the past. It cannot be confirmed that the "Apsara Dance" was ever performed here, because it developed from theatricalization...

But certainly, here there were melodies praising the gods, dances to worship spirits, ritual music to serve the rituals... Although the actors were not entirely Cham, more importantly, the art had to meet the standards.

In practice, this activity has spread to many Champa relics such as performances at Ponagar Tower in Nha Trang, Twin Towers in Binh Dinh, Cham Sculpture Museum in Da Nang, Po Sa Inu in Binh Thuan... This performance has also been performed in cultural activities of local communities in many places or in France, Korea, Japan, Germany.

Over the past 20 years, folk art performances at My Son have included both traditional folk excerpts and creations based on traditional materials by Cham artists. The performances feature a combination of Cham and local artists and actors.

This activity has contributed to attracting domestic and foreign visitors, contributing to the conservation of My Son relics. Cham folk culture is promoted and taught, contributing to the preservation of heritage and spreading the unique art of the Cham community today.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/vu-dieu-mua-cham-3143352.html