VietNamNet Bridge – Visitors to Yang Bay Tourist Park in Khanh Phu Commune, Khanh Vinh District, Khanh Hoa Province are impressed by Raglai ethnic group’s heritage, displayed through cultural stories told in the songs and dances of the Raglai Art Troupe. Living with a passion for the arts, the troupe’s members have promoted their group’s cultural essence and touched the hearts of millions of visitors from at home and abroad.

Cao Dy, head of the Raglai Art Troupe, instructs a foreign visitor on how to play a lithophone (Photo: thanhnien.com.vn)

It is estimated that there are around 50,000 Raglai people in Khanh Hoa Province, most of them living in the two mountainous districts of Khanh Vinh and Khanh Son. Two of the cultural identities of Raglai people are lithophone playing and traditional dances.

With the support of local authorities, Yang Bay Tourist Park’s management board established the Raglai art troupe around 10 years ago to deliver daily performances for visitors to the park, while contributing to keeping alive the group’s indigenous cultural features.

According to veteran artisan Cao Van Chung, who has 23 years of research experience on the lithophone and in the traditional dances of Raglai people in Khanh Phu Commune, the troupe has helped to waken dozens of treasured lithophones. With the talent of the troupe members, the musical instruments delight the listeners’ ears with melodies like birds singing and soothing forest sounds.

Elder Pi Nang Hao, one of the first discoverers of the lithophones, said that thanks to the art troupe, the lithophone – a cultural symbol of his ethnic group – can still be part of modern life.

However, the art troupe’s 12 members face a number of difficulties in maintaining its operation. Behind the beautiful songs and dances they deliver is the hardship and dedication of the artists.

Head of the troupe, Cao Dy - who is a master at both dancing and playing music - shared that he has received many offers of a generous salary and favourable working conditions from art troupes in Ho Chi Minh City. However, he rejected them all to stay in his home village and join the Raglai troupe.

With a modest salary from the park’s organising board, Dy has to do other jobs to provide extra income for his family while maintaining his passion for the arts. His difficulties do not stop him from practicing to bring more new songs and dances to the public.

In the same situation, dancer Cao Thi Duyen decided to turn her back on well-paid invitations to perform at lounges and music venues in Ho Chi Minh City before becoming a member of the Raglai troupe.

“My greatest happiness comes from showcasing my ethnic group’s cultural characteristics to as many as visitors as I can,” Duyen said.

Dy and Duyen have brought their passion to younger members of the troupe, encouraging them to overcome difficulties to maintain enthusiasm at work.

Artisan Cao Thi Mau, who has spent hundreds of sleepless nights helping to train the art troupe, said that efforts made by the band’s members have inspired the audiences’ love for the land, people and culture of Vietnam and Raglai group in particular.

Tran Quyet Thang, a visitor from Nha Trang, said that this was the first time he has experienced the traditional dances of the Raglai people. He noted that the ethnic group’s singing and dancing were unique and imbued the spirit of the highlands.

“I was also invited to talk with the artists, try their traditional costumes and try playing the musical instruments,” he stated.

Tony Tran, a tour guide who often leads delegations of visitors from the US to the Yang Bay Park, revealed that the tourists are interested in the troupe’s performances, which allow them to learn more about Vietnam.

Many groups have chosen to stay one more night at the park to spend time and enjoy the troupe’s repertoire. Despite a language barrier, the foreign audiences show their warm sentiments to the Vietnamese artists, he said.

The Raglai art troupe delivers an average of four shows a day with each show consisting of 12 performances. There are more shows during the festival seasons.

Aside from the shows, the band members spend much of the day practicing their performing skills. They also receive training and consultations from researchers on traditional music.

Deputy Director of Yang Bay Tourist Park Nguyen Phi Truong said that the band have so far done very well with their job. Not only performing in Raglai and Vietnamese, the members can also fluently sing in English. They are also active in inviting foreign visitors to share the stage for joint performances.

Not only aware of valuable heritage passed downed through generations, the Raglai art troupe have also kept learning to enrich their repertoire in order to provide the audiences with a mixture of traditional and modern. Their efforts have contributed to upholding the Raglai people’s cultural treasures and boosting tourism development in the locality.

Nhan Dan