VietNamNet Bridge -  Researcher Bui Chi Thanh has been credited with demonstrating and defining the origin and history of the dancing art of the Muong ethnic group in Tay Bac (the Northwest region) of Vietnam. He has also made a contribution to reviving a valuable cultural heritage that once was at risk of falling into oblivion.

Meritorious artist Bui Chi Thanh.

In 1993, at a workshop on the culture of ethnic groups, a speech on the dancing of the Muong people themed “Looking Out for a Forgotten Art” by Bui Chi Thanh drew special attention from those who have researched folk culture in Tay Bac. Until this speech, did many researchers believe that the Muong people had their own dances.
Through his speech and results obtained after several years of researching in the areas where the Muong are living and collecting evidence from archeological relics, Thanh affirms that the Muong have extremely distinctive dances.

According to his research, although the Muong people do not have script they do have hundreds of valuable literary works passed down orally, including the epic “De dat de nuoc”, poems, legends and pieces of wordless music, and a great treasure of diverse musical instruments.

Long ago, the Muong people had different dances performed on special occasions like festivals and funerals to serve the ruling circles who even had their own dancing team. After the August Revolution, the ruling class was overturned so the dances got lost.

Thanh said: “During my trips to mountainous areas to learn about the festivals, customs, habits and cultural life of the Muong ethnic group, I realized that they once had, diverse and typical dances and some of them are now preserved. Dancing was closely attached to and played an important part in festivals, especially in funeral ceremonies.”

He seems to have spent his whole life in Tay Bac and he pays special attention to the traditional dances of the Muong people. When there were opinions that the Muong people did not have dances, he had to travel to different remote areas in Hoa Binh, Thanh Hoa and Nghe An provinces – the home of the Muong people to conduct surveys.
During the trips, he researched and took notes in detail that were then used as evidence for him to successfully prove the origin and history of the traditional dances of the Muong.

He researched, discovered and restored many dances, namely the dance with fans, the dance with flags and the dance to offer gifts to the dead. He also announced research projects on the art of the Muong, including “Music in the Muong Family” and “The Dance of the Daughter in Law”.

Thanks to his valuable contributions to national folk art, he was awarded the National Prize for three research projects on the Muong dance, the Labour Medal, 2nd class, and the noble title of Meritorious Artist.

Bui Chi Thanh was born in 1933 in Gia Vien District, Ninh Binh Province. Although he is not a native of the Tay Bac region, Thanh really felt a strong attachment to the dancing of the ethnic groups in Tay Bac ever since he was a young soldier in the region.

In 1959, he studied at the Intermediate Dancing School in Hanoi with a major in choreography. After graduating from school, he returned to the Tay Bac region to lecture, research and organize many courses on dances for the Thai, Dao and Muong people.

He won the best director awards for the dances: "Cay Bong Mau" (1993), "Hoa Binh’s Victory" (1992). He also was awarded the National Price for three research projects on the Muong dance, the Labour Medal, 2nd class, and the noble title of Meritorious Artist.

Research projects on the dancing art of the Muong people conducted by researcher Bui Chi Thanh.

Researcher Bui Chi Thanh and his wife.

During a trip to research the dancing art of the Muong people.

Thanh spends much time teaching the Muong people the art of dance.

The gong team of the Muong people in Hoa Binh.

    

A set of gongs of the Muong ethnic people.

VNP